More and more people in Karlsfeld are experiencing housing shortages. In order to relieve the administration, the community is considering joining the Caritas housing department. However, concerns were now raised in the main and finance committee.
Karlsfeld – Sometimes it doesn’t take much for the mood to change. In the main and finance committee of the Karlsfeld municipality, one number was enough on Tuesday. To be precise: 69,308, 84 euros. This is how much it would cost the community annually if they joined the Caritas housing department. Recently, however, Caritas presented completely different figures. In the non-public meeting in June 2023 there was talk of a position with eleven hours per week. Cost: 33,400 euros. The interest of the municipal administration was aroused.
However, Mayor Stefan Kolbe's initial euphoria over what he described as a "good story" fizzled out on Tuesday when Heidi Schaitl, district manager of Caritas Dachau, presented her new cost forecast. “We revised the numbers and increased the number of hours per week,” explained Schaitl. Accordingly, the position now requires 20 hours per week, which costs a total of around 69,000 euros annually.
(By the way: Everything from the region is now also available in our regular Dachau newsletter.)
Housing shortage is growing in Karlsfeld: costs for the Caritas department are rising
“That causes me pain,” said Kolbe. The enthusiasm of the other committee members was also limited. There was great astonishment across all political groups at how costs could more than double within the last ten months.
As Dachau's district manager of Caritas explained, the assessment of the need has changed. When asked, she said that she had suggested to the local council in the summer of 2023 that she start working at short notice in the fall with eleven hours a week. However, the municipality made it clear that joining the specialist body would only be possible at the beginning of 2025. According to Schaitl, Caritas has coordinated the current cost proposal with the municipal administration, which is responsible for homeless accommodation.
The issue of impending homelessness is becoming increasingly explosive.
Heidi Schaitl, district manager of Caritas Dachau
“Our experience in consulting work is that the housing shortage in the district is increasing sharply and the issue of impending homelessness is becoming more and more explosive,” emphasizes Schaitl. According to Schaitl, the problem increases enormously, especially in larger communities that have an urban structure and a high rental apartment rate.
Many come to us when it is unfortunately already too late.
Sarah Kothai, head of the homeless shelter in Karlsfeld
Sarah Kothai also reports on this. Karlsfeld's administration is heavily challenged to accommodate homeless people. Kothai knows what she is talking about. She runs the community homeless shelter. Among other things. “The need is extremely increasing.” However, she knows that many of those affected are very reluctant to go to the community and get help in a timely manner. “Many people come to us when it is unfortunately already too late.” When the eviction is already pending.
The municipal administration then reaches its limits, says Kothai, who, in addition to the issue of homelessness, is also responsible for elections and the residents' registration office. As Kothai emphasized, she and her employee could no longer handle this in the long term.
Critical voices from the Karlsfeld Main and Finance Committee
Finance officer Stefan Theil (CSU) insisted on having the whole thing counted and considering whether the administration could employ a specialist itself. “I advise against doing this as a community,” said Janine Rößler-Huras (Greens) after Heidi Schaitl informed the local council about the “good network” of Caritas – consisting of addiction, debt, youth and parent counseling – as well as the “ “high level of expertise” and “very good training”. “We are not waiting for the situation to escalate, but are acting early,” emphasized the Caritas district manager. One thing is particularly important to Sarah Kothai from the administration: “I need someone with pedagogical training.” And urgently.
Ursula Weber (CSU) is of the opinion that the office to prevent homelessness is “well located” at Caritas. Heike Miebach (Greens) wanted to know whether you could start with 12 or 15 hours per week. Heidi Schaitl explained: “The concept cannot be achieved with such short hours. We can’t achieve success like this.”
Committee postpones decision
It remains to be seen whether the community will join the specialist body. Mayor Kolbe and his local councilors postponed the decision. “In the next meeting or the one after that,” said Kolbe, “a decision will be made.”