Residence

The percentage of immigrants living in the various parts of Dresden varies greatly. Reasons for this include proximity to the university, rent prices, and the cultural atmosphere. Also of great importance are good infrastructure, creative possibilities, options for participation, safety, and the political attitudes of the residents. Unfortunately, xenophobia is noticeable is some parts of the city. There are different funding programs and initiatives for meetings in order to break down fears and xenophobia.

Asylum seekers have generally lived in hostels. In the last few years, however, more and more apartments have been made available. The apartments have many advantages in comparison to the hostels, among which are more private space, the encouragement of individual responsibility, better hygienic conditions, and a smaller potential for conflict. The apartments are also usually less expensive. In some hostels, there were big problems with hygiene in the past. That should not happen again.

By 2020, the Dresden city administration should take the following steps:

• Timely information for residents if a new hostel for asylum seekers is going to be set up
• Expansion of the special funding programs for encounters and breaking down prejudices against foreigners in the different parts of the city
• Special help for parts of the city where a lot of people with social problems live
• Better inclusion of immigrants in the activities of the city districts
• Communication of work opportunities in the city districts and support of volunteer work by asylum seekers
• Improvement and safeguarding of hygiene of all of the asylum seeker hostels