Social Affairs and Housing Policy in Leipzig: April 2026 in Focus

Strengthening Committee Work and Participation – a Focus of Social Policy

Leipzig is increasingly committed to improving the quality and effectiveness of committee work, particularly with regard to people with disabilities and other societal groups. The Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities met on 27 April 2026 and discussed, among other things, proposals for the adaptation of the individual disability transport service and the repeal of the "hold request" regulation in trams. These debates show how closely the city works with those affected to improve conditions for participation.

In addition, it was decided that the Lord Mayor will offer training for members of the specialist advisory committees by the end of 2026, taking into account special needs – for example in the Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities. The recording of these trainings also enables better onboarding of newly appointed members.

Accessibility and Inclusion – New Approaches in Committee Work

Another focus was the creation of an accessible guideline for voluntary work in advisory committees, local town councils, and district advisory committees. The guideline is to be evaluated by 2029 and is a milestone on the way to more inclusive and accessible municipal political structures.

The specialist advisory committees themselves play a central role as a link between the city administration and societal groups. They bring expertise from affected people and experts into political decision-making processes. Training on topics such as the municipal council information system, municipal budget, de-escalation training, and local civic dialogue will help to use this expertise even more effectively.

Addiction Prevention and Homelessness – Challenges in April

In addition to participatory structures, social focal points such as addiction prevention and homelessness were also in the focus. The Centre for Drug Support organised an open day on the topic of "Children from Families Affected by Addiction" on 26 February 2026, which was attended by 42 visitors. In June 2026, the "KISS" (Competence in Self-Determined Substance Use) course will start with weekly group sessions until August.

A special project is the planned cooperation with the HTWK within the "INTERACT" project, which focuses on combating homelessness among women. In addition, the Junior Officers School of the German Army in Delitzsch plans to visit a drug counselling centre in May 2026, highlighting the networking between civil society and state structures.

Outlook: Social Participation and Inclusion as a Central Thread

The developments of April 2026 show that Leipzig is pursuing a clear course towards social participation, inclusion, and networking. Strengthening committee work, building barrier-free structures, and tackling social focal points such as addiction and homelessness are central pillars of this policy.

In the coming months, it will be particularly important to implement the planned trainings and guidelines and to carry out the evaluations. In addition, the discussions on the hold request regulation and the proposed cuts in child and youth welfare will be closely monitored.