Erfurt (dpa/th) – The Thuringian state government wants to give the municipalities money for the accommodation of refugees in the future instead of for occupied places. A corresponding regulation is to be changed in December, the Thuringian Ministry of Migration announced on Monday. According to this, the average capacity to be reserved is set at 11,000. “In special years, a further increase in capacity is also possible,” the statement said.
The all-in fee is to be “significantly increased” – but by how much, it was still unclear. Municipalities currently receive 210 euros from the state for each occupied accommodation place.
In addition, the state wants to accept letters of comfort in individual cases for long-term leases if municipalities create accommodation places. This makes it possible, for example, to rent hotels or holiday homes.
The law implementing the Second Book of Social Law is to be changed quickly so that increases in social costs that have arisen in the course of taking in Ukrainian refugees can be borne by the state. The regulation already in place for the current year is to be extended by one year. The background is that Ukrainian refugees receive social benefits directly and do not have to apply for asylum.
The Ministry of Migration announced that from January 2023 around 12.5 million euros will be paid to Thuringian housing companies and private homeowners to improve housing for refugees – earmarked for three years.
According to the ministry, 31,165 refugees from Ukraine were registered in Thuringia as of Monday. In the foreseeable future, up to 360 people are expected to come to Thuringia every week. The state administration office wants to distribute more refugees to the districts in the coming weeks, it said. “The aim is not to distribute refugees any further between December 23 and January 3,” the ministry said.
