Homeless people in Kiel on the federal election: “Of course we’re going to vote”

Kiel. They live in emergency accommodation or social housing, presumably with no savings and on the fringes of society. Four homeless people who "feel like they are not being noticed by politicians at all." And yet Tobi, Manuel, Ivonne and Dennis voted on Sunday. But why?

Demand in the cafeteria of a vocational school. The Kiel Homeless Aid organization donated kale to the homeless, about 70 people, that evening. It is audible that the results of the federal election are also on the guests' minds.

“Even we, who are not interested in most parties, voted democratically,” says Ivonne, and she and her table neighbors add at the same time: “Against the shift to the right.”

Her partner Manuel was homeless for a long time. Now she lives with the 41-year-old, known from the RTL II series "Hartes Deutschland", and their one-year-old daughter in a social housing apartment. They are the only ones in the group of five who have been given such an apartment. "There are still too few social housing apartments and even fewer emergency accommodations," says Manuel.

The group is very concerned about the lack of housing. For Tobi, it is one of the main issues that he has paid attention to in the parties' election manifestos. He is grateful to the city for short-term actions, such as providing accommodation in a guest house. However, he sees that this "unnecessarily wastes a lot of money that is missing for long-term projects."

Especially since the hygienic conditions are generally no different to emergency accommodation. He would like to become more independent again. "But without a refrigerator or cooking facilities, it is difficult to look after yourself," says the 33-year-old. "You think about whether you would rather sleep on the street," says Ivonne.

The group is also concerned with the issue of citizen's income. Tobi receives a disability pension. He has mixed feelings about the issue of citizen's income. "It's good that people get the money, but it should be legal to receive it." In order to support people in going back to work, he would like the new government to implement projects that help people to get a daily structure. He thinks it's commendable that citizen's income is being adjusted to inflation and rising living costs.

During the kale dinner organized by the homeless aid organization, the homeless people talk about the issue of food waste. "Food is also distributed under the Gablenz Bridge. Afterwards, you see masses of plates with food lying in the bushes," says Ivonne. The group is very annoyed about this and would like politicians to come up with solutions so that tons of food are not thrown away every day. That evening, they ask the kitchen help for foil so that they can take their leftover cooked sausage with them.

Despite the fact that four of the five voted in the 2025 federal election, they are skeptical that the new government will improve their situation. And they are not alone in this. Many people without a permanent residence feel let down by politics. "It is more the smaller organizations and associations that pay attention to us," says Daniel. He himself did not vote. "Nothing will change anyway, and the result was clear beforehand," he says.

Issues such as the lack of housing and the citizen's allowance remain important, but the disappointment with politics is palpable. "Nothing will change for us anyway, but maybe for our child," says Ivonne. She will continue to vote in the future, so that she can perhaps still make a difference.

This article first appeared in the “Kieler Nachrichten” – partner in the RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland.