Housing

Most of the actors that we engaged with in Memmingen and Glendale emphasized the economic prosperity in both areas. So, with Glendale and Memmingen we were able to get to know two economically flourishing cities.

Closely linked to economic development are social questions such as the human right to housing. From our perspective, secured housing is a basis for further participating in societal processes and creating social cohesion.

In this section, we will provide our experiences and perspectives on the social question of housing in Memmingen and Glendale.

Despite the economic prosperity that we were continuously told about, the topic of homelessness in Glendale was repeatedly addressed and highly visible in the city.

The number of homeless people in Glendale grew by  139% from 2020 to 2022 .

Various civil society organizations (including the public library) are providing basic support, such as water and protection from the sun.

Surprisingly, city officials stated that homeless people would need to be housed in temporary air dome tents (made in Germany) to present a specific image of the city during the Super Bowl, an event which attracts national and international attention.

Speaking to some actors in Memmingen and walking through the city, it would appear that there is no homelessness and social issues in the city.  However, on closer inspection we were told homelessness does exist and mainly affects young people. 

In addition, a shortage of affordable and safe housing, predominantly for precarious workers poses a social challenge in the community.