The Leverkusen model stands for the decentralized accommodation of displaced people in private homes in a close neighborhood with the local population, as opposed to centralized accommodation in collective housing. This decentralized approach promotes a "common good orientation" that benefits both displaced persons and locals. The aim is to improve social participation and strengthen personal interaction in the social environment.

Origin and basic idea

At the beginning of the 2000s, the city of Leverkusen was faced with a groundbreaking decision: should it launch a costly investment programme for shared accommodation, or promote the decentralized accommodation of displaced people in apartments, even if their residence status was still uncertain? This question is still highly relevant for many districts and municipalities today, which is why the Leverkusen model deserves special attention.

The city of Leverkusen opted for a progressive policy decision in favour of individual housing. Through direct contact between local residents and newly arrived displaced people in the neighbourhoods, the reception and decentralized distribution received broad social acceptance. This confirmed what has already been pointed out many times in research: Personal contact, encounters and exchanges are central to dealing with cultural difference and help immensely in reducing possible prejudices. In addition, the decision in favour of decentralized accommodation also contributed significantly to the maintenance and promotion of social housing.

Steps towards implementation

The practical implementation of the Leverkusen model involves several steps:

Identification of suitable apartments: Local authorities seek suitable apartments on the open market to accommodate displaced persons. This process involves either renting or purchasing properties.
Adaptation and furnishing of the apartments: If necessary, the selected apartments are repaired and renovated. Depending on whether it is a temporary or permanent residence, basic furnishings (furniture, etc.) are also provided.
Placement and support: displaced persons are allocated to the apartments and receive support services as required, for example to facilitate their connection to language course

Advantages of the Leverkusen model

Accommodation according to the Leverkusen model offers the advantage that people seeking protection can live in their own apartments and participate in social life. In their own apartments, they can find peace and quiet and process what they have experienced. This spares them long stays in shared accommodation. One particularly remarkable aspect of the model is that reliable figures show that decentralized accommodation is more cost-effective. By eliminating the high operating costs and financial expenditure for the renovation or construction of shared accommodation, which cannot be used for other purposes if there is no occupancy, the provision of apartments is usually cheaper. One of the reasons for this is the use of existing living space. In addition to the economic advantages, the construction or renovation of apartments creates urgently needed accommodation for the city or region in times of housing shortages, unlike in the case of shared accommodation.

Conclusion

The Leverkusen model impressively demonstrates how decentralized accommodation for displaced persons not only contributes to social participation, but can also be beneficial in terms of economic and urban planning. It represents a blueprint that can be adopted by other municipalities and districts to create alternatives to collective accommodation.

In our "Housing for All" series, we regularly present inspiring initiatives, models and ideas from Brandenburg and across Germany that are working to improve living conditions for displaced people.