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Social gap in Hamburg: 122 neighborhoods suffer from poverty and lack of opportunities!
The article examines the social division in Hamburg's districts, particularly Altona-Altstadt, and the challenges faced by disadvantaged groups.
Social gap in Hamburg: 122 neighborhoods suffer from poverty and lack of opportunities!
In recent years, the social divide in Hamburg has deepened, and not just on paper. According to a recent report by T Online 122 of the city's 151 disadvantaged areas are located in nine clusters, which are mainly found in the east and south of Hamburg. An alarming statistic that illustrates how severe inequality is in the Hanseatic city.
In these districts, high public benefits correlate with significant unemployment. Particularly worrying is the situation of many children who suffer from poverty and therefore have poorer chances of obtaining higher educational qualifications. In some neighborhoods this affects more than half of the population. Such conditions are not only socially unfair, they also influence the formation of future generations.
Different realities of life
The risk of poverty is particularly high in Hamburg. According to the Diakonie Hamburg the at-risk-of-poverty rate was around 19.8 percent in 2021. Young adults and single parents are particularly affected. Especially among single parents, the proportion rose from 38.6 percent in 2005 to a shocking 46.2 percent in 2021. Even in households with several children, the risk of poverty is high at 30.6 percent, which makes it impossible for many parents to enable their children to grow up carefree.
This complex problem is particularly evident in the rent structure. While wealthy Hamburg residents only spend 17 percent of their income on accommodation, people in the bottom third of their income have to spend up to 45 percent of their income. This not only leads to constant tension in everyday life, but also to a feeling of exclusion and despair.
Stability or social disintegration?
Like the report from Boeckler shows that social and economic inequality is on the rise in Germany. With a poverty rate of 17.8 percent and a rising Gini coefficient, it is clear that the gap between rich and poor is widening. In Hamburg, where the density of millionaires is the highest in Germany, this is reflected in a median of 25,449 euros per taxpayer in 2013, while the income range varies enormously across districts.
A stable report is more of a sign of entrenched structures than of positive developments. A representative survey shows that almost half of the workforce is concerned about social cohesion. Political decision-makers are called upon to take measures to counteract this division and strengthen social cohesion.
The need for a comprehensive social policy strategy is obvious. These would not only have to combat existing inequality, but also give a new boost to public goods such as culture and mobility. Hamburg needs a good hand to find its way out of this crisis and promote social cohesion.