New Housing Containers for 1,000 Refugees at Tempelhofer Feld

In Berlin, plans are underway to construct three-story housing containers for up to 1,000 refugees at Tempelhofer Feld. This initiative aims to address the ongoing housing crisis faced by many displaced individuals residing in the city. According to a recent response from the Senate to a query raised by the Green Party, nine blocks of these containers are expected to be operational by the second half of 2026.

Currently, a significant number of refugees are already living in temporary accommodations, including containers and the old hangars of the former airport. Reports indicate that there are approximately 2,147 individuals residing in these facilities at the Tempelhofer Feld site.

To further support children and adolescents living in these accommodations, plans have been announced to establish a welcome school on a nearby parking lot, which is slated to open this autumn. This school will serve as an essential resource for young refugees, providing them with educational opportunities and integration support.

As of now, around 35,000 refugees are living in standard accommodations across Berlin, while an additional 10,000 individuals are in emergency shelters, including areas surrounding the former airports of Tempelhof and Tegel. The conditions in these shelters have faced considerable criticism over the years.

In response to the growing influx of refugees, the local government has been leasing spaces in hotels and hostels while also working to build more sustainable housing solutions. In the first three quarters of 2024, approximately 16,200 refugees arrived in Berlin, including asylum seekers and individuals from Ukraine. This marks a decrease compared to the same period in 2023, where the figure was around 24,400, representing a nearly 50% increase year-on-year.

The development of new housing solutions at Tempelhofer Feld is part of Berlin's broader strategy to improve living conditions for refugees and ensure that adequate housing is available for those in need.