Social Affairs and Housing Policy in Krefeld: March 2026 in Focus

Social Policy and Housing Policy in Krefeld: March 2026

In March 2026, the city of Krefeld engaged intensively with social and housing policy issues. The Committee for Social Affairs, Labour, Housing, Health, Inclusion, Seniors, and Integration addressed the introduction of a Kältebus (cold weather bus), the modernization of the rent index, the introduction of drug checking, and the provision of safe spaces for victims of domestic violence. These topics reflect the challenges Krefeld faces in the areas of social affairs and housing.

Kältebus as Mobile Winter Support

A central decision of the committee was the introduction of a municipal Kältebus to support homeless and in-need individuals during cold nights. The Kältebus will be equipped with warm beverages, protective materials, and counseling services, and will serve as a mobile winter aid. The administration was tasked with submitting a concept by the end of Q3 2026 to implement the Kältebus for the upcoming winter season.

Krefeld already has a comprehensive winter aid program in collaboration with Diakonie, Emmaus, and Caritas. Nevertheless, the committee sees the Kältebus as an additional, flexible form of support that can relieve street workers and reach people who do not want to visit facilities. A similar model is already in place in Mannheim.

Rent Index and Rent Development

Housing policy also remained a central focus. The committee decided to recalculate the local Krefeld reference rent in Q1 2026, incorporating a representative share of existing rents. The previous calculation was primarily based on new rentals, leading to distortions and increasing rents. The Krefeld rent index will be updated by the end of Q2 2026 based on the new calculation.

The inclusion of existing rents is intended to more accurately reflect the actual average rent. Krefeld has approximately 124,000 apartments, 59% of which are rented. The housing situation is tense, rents are rising, and affordable housing remains scarce. The city also plans a proposal to establish a quota for publicly funded housing construction.

Drug Checking as a Preventive Measure

Another important topic was the introduction of drug checking at the Krefeld Drug Support Center. The motion from the B90/Die Grünen faction was unanimously referred to the committee. Drug checking allows users to test the purity and contaminants of their substances. It provides scientific insights into the composition of substances on the market and serves as a meaningful addition to the drug consumption room.

The North Rhine-Westphalia state government has created legal conditions for drug checking and supports the project for three years with material costs and for two years with costs for rapid tests. The administration is tasked with assessing the prerequisites for drug checking and initiating necessary steps. Financial resources for testing equipment, staff, and training will be consolidated and funding opportunities identified.

Protection Against Domestic Violence

Krefeld has also taken decisive steps in the prevention and combating of domestic violence. With the new Violence Protection Act (GewHG), which came into force on February 28, 2025, a legal framework was created to ensure protection, counseling, and support for gender-specific and domestic violence. The law is based on the Istanbul Convention of the Council of Europe, which Germany ratified on October 12, 2017.

Currently, the women's shelter in Krefeld, operated confidentially by the Catholic Women's Social Service (SkF), offers 12 protection places for women and 8 places for children. According to the Council of Europe's recommendation, there should be 1 protection place for women and 1.5 women's shelter places for children and adolescents per 10,000 residents. This would result in a need for around 23 protection places for women and a total of 57 women's shelter places for Krefeld.

The city of Krefeld has initiated discussions with the SkF to plan the further development of support offers for women seeking protection. The goal is to expand the protection infrastructure and ensure quality standards. The GewHG brings opportunities such as financial security and planning certainty, but also challenges such as higher quality standards and bureaucratic obligations.

Conclusion and Outlook

March 2026 was an intense month for Krefeld in terms of social and housing policy. The committee made important decisions that can directly influence the daily lives of many citizens. The introduction of a Kältebus, the modernization of the rent index, the introduction of drug checking, and the provision of safe spaces for victims of domestic violence are steps in the right direction.

In the coming months, it will be crucial to see how these decisions are implemented in practice. The administration has clear deadlines and tasks, and the political bodies will monitor the implementation. It is particularly important that the measures not only exist on paper, but actually lead to improvements—for the most vulnerable in society, for people in need, and for a vibrant, socially just city of Krefeld.