Bavarian Interior Ministry to Reduce 42,000 Asylum Places as Localities Continue Building New Shelters

Around ten years ago, roughly 160,000 refugees settled in Bavaria, Germany. Since then arrivals have sharply declined, prompting the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior to announce a plan to eliminate about 42,000 asylum accommodation places by the end of 2027 – roughly a quarter of the existing capacity.

Despite the statewide reduction, several municipalities are still constructing or expanding shelters. In Bad Wörishofen a former emergency accommodation has been closed, yet a new asylum centre is being built in Friedberg and an existing one is being expanded. Volunteers such as Angelika Beck and Evelyn Söll note that the daily reality has shifted from providing clothing and food to focusing on job search and integration, while also facing a shortage of helpers. Beck remarks, “The people come and nobody takes care of integration,” a sentiment echoed by Söll.

Local officials report changing public attitudes, with complaints about noise and bicycle traffic from newcomers. The reduction of asylum places is politically driven, but the lack of support from district offices and the dwindling volunteer base make the continued investment in new facilities appear contradictory to many residents.