"I never thought it would happen to me," said Petra, who found herself living on the street in Berlin as the pandemic
gripped Europe's top economy one year ago.
For weeks now the message on how best to slow the spread of coronavirus has been clear: stay at home. But what does this mean for those who are homeless?
The number of homeless people in Germany has been growing for years. Larger towns are using a variety of means to try to protect the homeless from the dangers of the cold this winter. Some are even taking additional measures to help out their dogs.
A warm bed for a night is not always enough for Germany's homeless. Because homeless people are continually exposed to the current cold, Experts believe that even the daytime can pose many dangers.
An organization which supports the rights of Sinti and Roma in Frankfurt has accused city officials of âscandalous" behaviour for tampering with the passports of Roma migrants.
Rising rents and a lack of social housing are contributing to homelessness in the German capital. Adapting means disappearing 'like a little grey mouse' in the city's crevices.
The Polish government has said it will take a more active role in looking after the thousands of Polish people living on the streets of the German capital.
According to an estimate published by the Federal Association for Assistance for the Homeless on Wednesday, the number of people living on Germanyâs streets has risen by 13,000 in two years.
Police arrested two men on Saturday night on suspicion of attempted aggravated assault against a sleeping homeless man. The men have admitted to the crime, saying they did it âfor fun.â
Berlinâs inner-city parks are increasingly becoming camping spots for homeless people, many of them from eastern Europe. Local politicians are grappling for answers, with some calling for severe solutions.
The main perpetrator behind a fire attack on a sleeping homeless man in Berlin last Christmas Eve was sentenced on Tuesday to two years and nine months in prison.
A group of six young refugees went on trial for attempted murder on Tuesday, after one of them tried to set fire to a homeless man in a Berlin U-Bahn station on Christmas Eve.
Hundreds of thousands of people in Germany don't have a home - and during the winter, cold weather and illness can put them in life-threatening situations.
Teams of homeless footballers battled it out this weekend for the German Homeless Cup championship title. Kate Hairsine went along to find out how the tournament helps those on the street find their feet.
Where do you sleep if you haven't got a bed? A new kind of walking tour that gives people a snapshot of Berlin through the eyes of homeless people is causing a stir on the streets of the German capital.
Whatâs it like living as a homeless youth in Germany? <b>Melanie Sevcenko</b> spoke with <b>Maria Speth</b> about her new documentary â<i>9 Leben</i>,â which lets street kids tell their own tales.
