(back)How NGOs help undocumented migrants to access housing in Germany
Churches and NGOs tend to provide support to families,
for whom it is more difficult to stay in night shelters, cheap hotels, shared
flats, or with relatives. Some churches have opened or have thought of opening
their doors to shelter people for some time. Some networks specialize in help to
women and children. In Berlin, a few organizations give support to undocumented
migrants workers, especially single mothers who work in households in Berlin. In
addition to providing accommodation to them, organizations tend to investigate
on the possibility of returning to the country and otherwise try to obtain their
legal status. Sometimes individuals, whether attached to an organization or not,
help people to get shelter by providing a space in their own home or by paying
rent for them.
The fact that their work is illegal does not pose such
a problem to church organizations, which are unlikely to get into serious
trouble due to the Church’s support. Uli Sextro from Projekt Illegalität, an organization that helps Church
organizations that provide assistance to undocumented migrants, claims:
“Churches have to help these people, legal or illegal. We don’t give any
information to anybody. That is our profession”.