A Romanian family returning to Berlin after a ten-day trip to their home country was denied reentry to a homeless shelter, with a court ruling their situation was not involuntary homelessness.

A Romanian family of four, including two nearly adult children, faced rejection from a Berlin homeless shelter after returning from a ten-day trip to their home country. The family had previously been housed in a temporary shelter in the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district, with costs covered by local authorities. However, they were informed prior to their departure that their spot at the shelter could not be guaranteed upon their return.

The Neukölln district council, led by Social Councillor Hannes Rehfeldt, denied the family’s request for reentry, citing that their homelessness was avoidable. The family challenged the decision in court, but the Berlin Administrative Court upheld the rejection, stating that the family had willingly placed themselves in this situation. Rehfeldt emphasized that state resources are intended to address involuntary homelessness and suggested that the family should take responsibility for resolving their housing situation.

The case has sparked broader discussions about the misuse of social services. Reports from the shelter operator indicated prior issues with the family, including violations of house rules such as alcohol and tobacco use in their rooms. Additionally, the family had been receiving other state benefits, totaling over €1,000 monthly after deductions, alongside the shelter costs. Rehfeldt described the court’s decision as a potential turning point, signaling a stricter approach to similar cases in the future.