Prevention Acts Before Homelessness Sets In
The Central Counseling Center for People in Housing Crisis (ZBS) of Diakonie Altholstein therefore consistently focuses on prevention. The goal is to support people as early as possible and prevent homelessness from occurring in the first place. The results from 2025 clearly demonstrate the success of this approach: A total of 233 cases were handled in the prevention program. The earlier support is provided, the greater the chances of retaining one’s home. This is especially true regarding the timing of the counseling center’s involvement. When the ZBS was brought in before legal proceedings began, every impending loss of housing was prevented. But the support also proves effective even in advanced proceedings. For example, in cases where an eviction lawsuit had already been filed, homelessness or loss of housing was averted in about seven out of ten cases. Even in cases where evictions had been ordered, this was still achieved in just under one in three cases.
Securing Housing and Creating Opportunities
The fact that the ZBS’s work achieves lasting success is also demonstrated by the outpatient housing support provided by Diakonie Altholstein. Since 2019, a total of 54 apartments have been leased as part of the project and subleased to people with special support needs. In 31 cases, the tenancies have already been successfully converted into regular primary lease agreements. All of these tenancies remain stable to this day. Nine households
still receiving support in 2025. This compares to only three cases where the program was discontinued. In addition, other participants were placed in alternative housing, in other cities or states, or in residential facilities.
Success Through Strong Partnerships
These successes are made possible by close collaboration between the ZBS, the City of Neumünster, the Job Center, landlords, the district court, and other social service providers. In particular, the early referral of eviction lawsuits and information about impending housing loss enables rapid intervention before problems become entrenched.
“The work our staff does in assisting the homeless is often very complex and requires not only professional expertise but also a great deal of dedication, perseverance, and a strong network,” says Gesa Kitschke, Executive Director of Diakonie Altholstein, adding: “This makes the moments when we succeed in preventing people from becoming homeless and in preserving the foundation for a self-determined life all the more gratifying.”
“Prevention only works when everyone involved pulls together. In Neumünster, we’ve been experiencing a very constructive and solution-oriented collaboration for many years. That’s a key reason why we’re able to spare many people the path into homelessness,” emphasizes Carsten Hillgruber, city council member for the City of Neumünster.
Current federal figures confirm the Neumünster approach
The fact that this preventive approach is effective is also confirmed by the latest figures from the Federal Statistical Office. As of January 31, 2026,
20 homeless individuals in housing were recorded in Neumünster. Even when statistically extrapolating for refugees and asylum seekers who were not recorded in Neumünster compared to other municipalities, Neumünster—with approximately 194 people*—remains well below the figures for other municipalities in Schleswig-Holstein, such as Flensburg (675), Lübeck (1,490), or Kiel (2,970).
“For us at Diakonie Altholstein, the current figures confirm the approach we have been successfully pursuing in Neumünster for many years through close collaboration among all stakeholders: prevention, counseling, and housing work together effectively here,” says Gesa Kitschke.
Thorsten Hippe, executive director of the Neumünster Job Center, is also pleased with the results: “Those who don’t have to worry about losing their home every day can focus on work, training, and new opportunities. That’s why the prevention work carried out by the Central Counseling Center is a key component of social and professional participation.”
Challenges Remain
While prevention efforts are increasingly helping to avert homelessness, the challenges facing people who are already experiencing homelessness are growing. This is also reflected in the figures from the overnight shelter: In 2025, the Central Counseling Center recorded a total of 7,469 overnight stays (2024: 6,344).
“The people who come to our overnight shelter often face very complex problems. Mental health issues, substance use disorders, and social difficulties frequently overlap, making it considerably more difficult to place them in regular housing,” explains Melanie Popp, department head at Diakonie Altholstein. Added to this is the tight housing market, which is making it increasingly difficult—especially for people with special support needs—to secure their own apartment.
*According to the Federal Statistical Office, 20 homeless people in shelters were reported in Neumünster as of January 31, 2026. Homeless people in refugee shelters are not included in these figures. To account for this, the reported figure was adjusted by the percentage of people without German citizenship (89.7% in Schleswig-Holstein; 85% for Germany as a whole).
Photo: Thorsten Hippe, Executive Director of the Neumünster Job Center; Gesa Kitschke, Executive Director of Diakonie Altholstein; Melanie Popp, Head of Homeless Services at Diakonie Altholstein; Carsten Hillgruber, City Councilmember for the City of Neumünster