Greifswald (dpa/mv) – A refugee accommodation planned in Greifswald for up to 120 people is not to be set up for cost reasons. The Vorpommern-Greifswald district announced this on the recommendation of the state, the city of Greifswald announced on Tuesday. A letter from the district said that it could not be guaranteed that the costs actually incurred could be reimbursed. Reference was made to current cost increases.

“With the cessation of the preparation of the refugee accommodation in Greifswald, we are unfortunately deprived of an opportunity to make good preparations for the winter of refugees,” criticized the mayor of Greifswald, Stefan Fassbinder (Greens). You could have relaxed the tight housing market in the Hanseatic city. You were not involved in the decision.

Almost at the same time as the cancellation, the district asked the city to help in the search for housing. As the largest city in the district, Greifswald exerts a great attraction on refugees, for example from the Ukraine.

Originally, an empty day care center in the Baltic Sea district was to be prepared and used as accommodation until early summer 2024. According to the city, the daycare center has already invested time and money. For example, a fire protection concept was drawn up, the first services were tendered and orders were placed. The building should now serve as an interim solution for planned new day care centers.

According to the city of Greifswald, almost 600 refugees have arrived since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. It is mainly women with children and older people. The Greifswald housing companies WVG and WGG have already been able to provide 258 refugees with more than 100 apartments (as of August 2022). Further housing offers and commitments are also available from the surrounding area. Private landlords would also have helped with the accommodation.