MA Studio + Seminar SoSe 2025
Prof. Dr. Anke Hagemann, Dr. Hassan Elmouelhi, Hellen Aziz

Refugees and the Berlin Housing Market
Fluctuation of Refugees between Temporary Shelter and Permanent Homes

A decade after the peak influx of refugees to Germany, many still reside in temporary shelters rather than transitioning to permanent housing. This raises the question of whether this is a personal choice or a result of external constraints. 

The research studio, in collaboration with the Landesamt für Flüchtlingsangelegenheiten (LAF) Berlin (State Office for Refugee Affairs), explores the factors influencing refugees’ length of stay and fluctuation rates in different types of Berlin’s shelters. The study aims to provide evidence-based insights to improve accommodation planning. Several factors impact these housing patterns, including integration success, Berlin’s housing shortage, rising rental costs, and social and logistical aspects such as access to services and social networks. Administrative, legal, psychological, and cultural elements also influence fluctuation trends, alongside shelter conditions and safety concerns in different Berlin districts. To investigate these influences, the study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative research. Key stakeholders, including Berlin Entwickelt Neue Nachbarschaften (BENN) and Neighborhood Management (QM), will contribute to the research. The collected data will be analyzed statistically to identify trends and correlations, while thematic and grounded theory approaches will uncover underlying motivations. By integrating qualitative and quantitative insights, this study will offer a comprehensive perspective on refugee housing patterns, informing policy recommendations and scenarios to enhance accommodation strategies for Berlin’s LAF.

The studio takes place in collaboration with a related seminar, giving students the flexibility to choose between the seminar or the studio, depending on their workload and the required ECTS for their program.

Photo: © Juliana Canedo

Download poster here.