Homeless Poles in Germany. Stories that need to be heard!

Three episodes of the “COSMO po polsku” podcast on “Homeless Poles in Germany” (Bezdomni Polacy w Niemczech) from November and December 2024 focus on the stories behind this phenomenon and introduce listeners to a world of poverty, addiction and the fight for survival on the streets of Berlin, Munich and Hanover.

1. It was supposed to be so good
 

The first episode of the podcast illustrates how the dream of a brighter future abroad is so often shattered by the brutal reality of life on the German streets.

“More Polish homeless people are treated in our hospital than in all the hospitals in Warsaw put together”, says Dr Tomasz Skajster, a neurosurgeon at the Vivantes-Klinikum hospital in Berlin. Every year, around 1,000 homeless Poles in need of help are treated in his accident and emergency department, of whom 200 are long-term patients. The extent of this phenomenon is a cause for concern; the stories of the people who have become homeless illustrate just how varied the paths are that lead them to this situation. But what are the root causes of the problem?

For Polish people, Germany has always been a byword for higher wages and more stable working and living conditions. Many of them come to Germany in the hope of finding quick success, convinced that it will be easy to find work and a place to live here. However, the reality of everyday life soon brings an end to such hopes. As Barbara Paśnicki from the Caritas charity organisation explains: “Many people still believe that Germany is the promised land. They think that they can make easy money here. It’s not until they arrive that they find out that there is no work for them because they don’t speak German”.

Many Poles turn to temporary employment agencies who promise to find them work straight away. However, they are often disappointed. Piotr, a young homeless Pole, tells his story: “I found a job via an employment agency, but I couldn’t cope with the work. On paper, I was supposed to fix waste bins onto waste disposal lorries, but instead, I was made to sort through the rubbish, and there were a load of syringes in there. I refused to do that kind of work.”

Some of them also see emigration to Germany as an opportunity to flee from their own difficult past, whether it’s criminality, addiction, or family or social problems. Marek, a young man driven onto the streets by drug addiction, explains: “I had been shooting up for a long time, and I finally ended up on the street. I lost the trust of my family, and I’m too ashamed to go back to Poland.” In Berlin, he was given medical support and completed a course of therapy, but he still faces a long, challenging path back to normality.

In the German social support system, it is easier for homeless people to access help than it is in Poland. Emergency night shelters, free meals and medical assistance make life on the streets in Germany more bearable. Berlin has a good reputation among homeless Poles. The broad offers of support available also attract people who had already slept on the streets before.

The stories of the Poles who live on the streets in Germany tell of failed plans and of dreams that have shattered in the face of harsh reality. A lack of planning and knowledge of the language, as well as inadequate social support, often lead to homelessness. As the social worker Wojciech Greh, who has worked with the homeless for many years, explains: “They come here believing that they can start earning 2,000 Euros net straight away. However, that simply doesn’t happen, since they often don’t have any qualifications and don’t speak the language.” In situations like these, people often become reliant on external support. They take advantage of emergency accommodation, free meals and other forms of assistance without making an effort to get themselves out of this situation.

However, despite the extensive help on offer, Germany is unable to fulfil all their expectations. The people who don’t have the opportunity to lead a better life often remain on the margins of society and are dependent on charity organisations and the goodwill of individuals who want to help them.