Housing Accessibility Among International Migrants in Germany: Identifying Affordable Housing Strategies and Pathways to Housing Among African Refugees …

Overview of the Study

This master’s thesis, authored by Mike Twum Asante of the Bauhaus‑Universität Weimar, investigates housing accessibility for African refugees in Germany, focusing on Erfurt. Submitted in February 2024 as part of the MSc European Urban Studies programme, the research combines a literature review, semi‑structured interviews with six African refugees, an urban‑development expert and a Caritas social worker, and thematic analysis to map barriers, strategies and pathways to housing.

Housing Context in Germany

Germany hosts one of Europe’s largest refugee populations, with over 1.24 million refugees recorded in 2021. The rental market is tight, especially in major cities, leading to high competition for affordable units. Erfurt, the capital of Thuringia, exemplifies this pressure: an occupancy rate of 99.5 % and a shortage of social‑housing stock force both locals and newcomers to vie for limited apartments. Municipal housing companies, notably KoWo, dominate the city’s housing stock, providing a substantial share of low‑income and refugee accommodation.

Key Barriers Identified

Interview data reveal three principal obstacles for African refugees in Erfurt:

1. Racial discrimination by private landlords and housing agencies, often manifesting in outright refusals or heightened scrutiny based on skin colour, accent or refugee status.
2. Severe housing shortage and affordability, with average rents for shared apartments ranging from €250 to €300 per person and single units costing €300‑€400, while caution (deposit) fees of €500‑€1 000 further deter applicants.
3. Size and location constraints, particularly for families requiring larger units, compounded by perceived neighbourhood safety issues and ethnic segregation.

Strategies Employed by Refugees

Four main coping strategies emerged:

• Social‑network assistance (migrant‑assisted pathway), where relatives, friends or compatriots provide informal housing or vouch to landlords.
• Self‑assisted digital search (internet‑based pathway), utilising platforms such as WG‑Gesucht, Immowelt, Immobilienscout24 and smartphone apps, though limited by language barriers and lack of devices for some respondents.
• Community‑organisation support (locally assisted pathway), with NGOs like Caritas offering housing lists, translation help, appointment facilitation and advocacy to mitigate discrimination.
• Municipal and state assistance (government‑assisted pathway), encompassing initial reception centres, decentralized accommodation, social‑housing allocation through KoWo, and welfare benefits (e.g., Bürgergeld) covering rent and utilities.

Housing Pathways Mapped

The study outlines a typical progression for African refugees:

1. Arrival and reception – initial placement in collective reception centres (e.g., Suhl) for up to 18 months.
2. Temporary accommodation – either group housing in reception facilities or informal stays with social contacts.
3. Transition to private market – self‑search or network‑mediated applications for shared flats or single apartments.
4. Current stable housing – predominantly municipal social housing provided by KoWo, offering 1‑room units (≈25 m²) for singles or 2‑room units (≈40‑60 m²) for families, albeit with persistent concerns over space and neighbourhood quality.

Quantitative Highlights

• Total pages of the thesis: 450.
• Sample size: six refugee respondents (four men, two women) from Eritrea, Sudan and Nigeria, plus two professionals.
• Reported rent burden: refugees spend roughly 70‑80 % of their monthly income on housing, exceeding the EU‑recommended 30 % threshold.
• Housing satisfaction: privacy and independence are the most valued attributes; shared accommodation is tolerated mainly for cost reasons.

Policy Implications

The findings suggest that enhancing affordable housing in Erfurt requires:

• Strengthening anti‑discrimination enforcement in the private rental market.
• Expanding municipal social‑housing quotas to reduce waiting lists for low‑income refugees.
• Providing language‑accessible digital tools and subsidised smartphone access to improve self‑assisted searches.
• Facilitating partnerships between housing companies, NGOs and municipal authorities to streamline referrals and reduce deposit barriers.

Relevance for Sustainable Housing

The thesis underscores the intersection of social equity and sustainability: secure, affordable housing is essential for the integration, health and economic participation of refugees, contributing to broader urban resilience. Addressing discriminatory practices and housing scarcity aligns with European Sustainable Development Goal targets on inclusive, safe and affordable housing, and offers a model for other cities facing similar migration‑driven pressures.