Saxony's Refugee Housing Surplus: Time for Change?
Unused refugee housing facilities persist in being under-occupied - Refugee housing left unoccupied
Let's dive into the current state of refugee accommodations in Saxony, focusing on notable districts like Chemnitz, Görlitz, Meißen, Bautzen, and Leipzig.
Unoccupied Spaces Galore!Saxony's refugee accommodations are facing a challenge due to their underutilization. In Chemnitz, for instance, only about half of the spaces in communal accommodations and around 59% of rented apartments were occupied in the first quarter of 2025. Moreover, the districts of Görlitz, Meißen, and Bautzen also show significant underutilization. Even the bustling city of Leipzig, with its persistent housing shortage, has nearly 36% of its apartments for decentralized accommodation occupied.
Juliane Nagel's Call to ActionLeft Party politician Juliane Nagel noticed this trend while conducting a minor inquiry in the State Parliament. Nagel advocates for refugees to be housed in apartments as soon as possible, ideally with their own leases, to support their transition into independent living and integration. Nagel also sees this as an opportunity to dismantle temporary accommodations like the tent accommodations in Leipzig, which, as you might recall, sparked public outrage.
Affordable Housing for All: The Key to SuccessNagel believes that many districts in Saxony can make improvements when it comes to accommodating refugees in rented apartments. The high number of people with a residence permit still living in communal accommodations in Leipzig suggests a critical need to create more affordable housing, which benefits everyone.
Arrivals on the DeclineThe Saxon State Directorate reveals that the number of new migrants arriving at reception facilities has significantly decreased. In 2025, the number dropped to 2,378 affected people registered (as of 28 May) compared to 3,842 and 7,684 in the same periods of the previous two years.
Common Origins of ArrivalsIn 2025, the most frequent countries of origin for refugees are Venezuela, Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Turkey. The Saxon State Directorate has also deported 349 rejected asylum seekers under their supervision, along with another 37 deported by lower foreign authorities. At the end of April, 12,229 rejected asylum seekers were obliged to leave, with 10,120 of them holding a status as tolerated.
- Refugee Integration
- Juliane Nagel
- Housing Shortage
- Leipzig Tent Camps
- Communal Accommodation
- District of Görlitz
- Meißen
- Chemnitz
- District of Bautzen
- Leipzig
- Juliane Nagel, a Left Party politician, proposes a change in Saxony's refugee housing policy, advocating for refugees to be housed in apartments as soon as possible, with the aim of supporting their transition into independent living and integration.
- The underutilization of refugee accommodations in Saxony is a pressing issue, with data from Chemnitz showing only half of the spaces in communal accommodations and around 59% of rented apartments occupied in the first quarter of 2025.
- Nagel also suggests that dismantling temporary accommodations like the tent camps in Leipzig, which sparked public outrage, could be part of a comprehensive change in the region's refugee housing policy.
- The high number of people with a residence permit still living in communal accommodations in Leipzig indicates a critical need for more affordable housing, which, as Nagel believes, benefits everyone.
- While the number of new migrants arriving in Saxony has significantly decreased in 2025, the most frequent countries of origin for refugees remain Venezuela, Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Turkey.
- Nagel believes that many districts in Saxony can make improvements in accommodating refugees, with districts like Görlitz, Meißen, and Bautzen also showing significant underutilization of refugee accommodations.
