Homeless shelters in Bern are facing significant overcrowding, with new data revealing that a large majority of occupants are foreign nationals. This situation has sparked debate and criticism regarding allocation of resources and legal responsibilities.
Key Takeaways
- Over two-thirds of homeless shelter occupants in Bern are from EU or third-party states.
- Bernese Canton now requires state-funded shelter beds for those with legal residency only.
- The city parliament will vote on a 400,000 Swiss franc supplementary credit for shelters.
- Political leaders are divided on whether to repatriate foreign nationals without legal status.
Overcrowding and Occupancy Data
Bern's homeless shelters are struggling with capacity. The Passantenheim Bern, a facility with 60 beds, has been consistently over capacity throughout 2024. This trend highlights a growing challenge for the city's social services.
Internal occupancy statistics from the City of Bern show a clear demographic shift. Only 29.5 percent of the homeless individuals staying in these shelters are Swiss nationals. The remaining majority come from outside Switzerland.
Did You Know?
Bern operates five homeless shelters, providing a total of 127 beds. The Canton contributes to the costs of most of these facilities through performance agreements.
A significant portion, 35 percent, are citizens from EU countries. Another 35.5 percent originate from third-party states, meaning countries outside the European Union or EFTA. This breakdown means over two-thirds of shelter users are foreign nationals.
New Shelter Data Reveals Similar Trends
A recently opened shelter for Finta individuals (women and non-binary persons) also shows a similar occupancy pattern. From June to September, its services were utilized by various groups.
- Two asylum seekers used the facility.
- Seven individuals lacked a valid residence permit.
- Sixteen people had an unknown residency status.
This data from a specialized shelter further supports the argument that foreign nationals are heavily reliant on Bern's emergency accommodation services.
Background on Bern's Policy Change
The Canton of Bern recently mandated that state-funded emergency shelter beds should only be allocated to individuals with legal residency. This decision comes as homelessness numbers rise, aiming to prioritize those with a legal right to stay.
Political Debate on Responsibility and Repatriation
The occupancy statistics have ignited a political debate within Bern. City Councilor Corina Liebi of the Green Liberal Party argues that the capacity problem is self-inflicted. She believes certain groups should not be using these shelters.
"If we have groups of people in the emergency shelters who don't actually belong there – in my view, for EU or EFTA citizens, their embassies would be responsible for their accommodation – then we have a problem," Liebi stated. "It doesn't help if the city keeps pouring more money into solving the issue."
Alexander Ott, head of the foreign police, confirmed that repatriating EU citizens to their home countries is an existing possibility. He indicated that this topic is regularly discussed in various meetings with the City of Bern's social services.
However, Ott noted that the foreign police have not yet received any requests for such repatriations from the social services department.
Humanitarian Aid Versus Legal Mandate
Claudia Hänzi, head of Bern's Social Welfare Office, emphasized the humanitarian aspect of their work. She views providing emergency shelter as a fundamental human right.
"Our partner organizations and we provide protection and shelter in individual emergencies. This is a human right, and the content of human rights cannot be politically negotiated. That is higher-ranking law," Hänzi explained. She added that the social services department does not have a mandate for foreign police tasks.
City Councilor Liebi disagreed with this stance. She argued that the City of Bern must enforce federal laws, regardless of political preferences. "It's not acceptable to not do it for political reasons," she said.
Upcoming Parliament Vote and Future Measures
The Bern City Parliament is set to vote on a supplementary credit of approximately 400,000 Swiss francs for the homeless shelters this Thursday evening. This funding is crucial for maintaining current operations.
Additionally, a motion will be debated that would require the city to collect more detailed data on who is staying in its emergency shelters. This aims to provide a clearer picture of the demographics and needs.
Within the red-green majority in parliament, there are doubts about whether more precise data collection would actually lead to repatriations of EU or EFTA citizens.
Winter Crisis
Last winter, up to 60 homeless individuals in Bern were forced to sleep on the streets each night due to overcrowded shelters. This situation underscores the urgency of finding sustainable solutions.
SP City Councilor Barbara Keller highlighted the complex realities faced by many individuals. "In practice, it's a bit more difficult," Keller stated. "People come from war zones, many are psychologically and physically at their limit, and are in an emergency situation."
SVP City Councilor Alexander Feuz offered a contrasting view. "If you look at the numbers, people are here for weeks, even though they are not legally allowed to stay," Feuz commented. The differing political positions mean a clear solution to the capacity problem remains elusive.