“Social assistance and public order measures are both part of the city’s responsibilities. We want to offer people the support they need and ensure public order where necessary,” explain Jana Schmöller, Head of Social Services, and Karsten Lange, Head of Public Order, in a joint statement. 

People who are at risk of homelessness or are currently homeless, as well as those who need support related to substance use disorders, can find a wide range of counseling, support, and housing services in Mainz. The state capital of Mainz works closely with nonprofit organizations and other institutions to provide these services. The services range from preventing the loss of housing to low-threshold assistance and emergency shelters, as well as counseling, care, and aftercare. 

Support and Housing for Homeless People

An important point of contact is the Housing Assistance Office within the Department of Social Services of the state capital of Mainz. It advises people whose housing is at risk or who have already lost their homes. The goal is to preserve housing wherever possible and prevent homelessness. Under certain conditions, for example, rent arrears may be covered if doing so can prevent the loss of housing. In addition, the center assists specific groups of people in finding new housing.

For people without their own housing, the city, in collaboration with nonprofit organizations, offers various accommodation options. These include low-threshold overnight shelters such as the NachtRaum or Housing Area 6411. Unterkunft Plus, a joint program offered by the City of Mainz and Mission Leben, is designed for homeless people with diagnosed mental health conditions and/or specific behavioral or emotional challenges. The program combines housing with intensive social-educational support. 

The city’s services are supplemented by additional facilities and counseling centers run by independent organizations, including the Thaddäusheim, the Heinrich-Egli-Haus, and the Wendepunkt. They offer housing, counseling, and support for people in various life situations.

Tailored Addiction Support Services

The city of Mainz also provides a comprehensive support system for people with problematic substance use or addictive behaviors. The Addiction Services Department within the Office for Youth and Family coordinates three facilities for this purpose: the Café BALANCE Drug Assistance Center, the BRÜCKE Youth and Drug Counseling Center, and the BASIS semi-residential housing project.

BRÜCKE offers free and, upon request, anonymous counseling for people with problematic substance use, young people, and their families. Services include, among other things, psychosocial counseling, crisis intervention, debt counseling, online counseling, and addiction prevention. Young people are also reached through preventive outreach. 

Café BALANCE is aimed specifically at adults who use illegal substances. With its drop-in café, counseling center, and emergency sleeping area, it offers low-threshold access to addiction and social counseling, basic health care, and harm reduction measures. These include needle exchange, street outreach, and naloxone training to prevent fatal overdoses.  

The BASIS housing project supports people who were formerly addicted to substances after completing therapy, helping them continue their rehabilitation process and prevent relapses. This includes supervised housing, social-educational guidance, and support in managing daily life as well as integration into school and the workforce.  

“Our goal is to reach people in difficult life situations, offer them protection, and provide concrete support. To this end, we have worked with independent service providers to establish a diverse support system that takes into account different life situations and support needs. For us, helping means not reducing people to their homelessness or addiction, but rather working with them to develop prospects for the future without criminalizing them. This is not only important for those affected, but also makes a significant contribution to harmonious coexistence in our city,” emphasizes Jana Schmöller, Head of Social Affairs.

Ensuring Public Safety and Order

In addition to social assistance, the city’s Public Order Office and the police ensure order and safety in public spaces. Particularly in the area around the main train station, the Public Order Office, state police, federal police, and DB Security have expanded their cooperation.  

Karsten Lange, Head of Public Order, emphasizes the importance of the various, coordinated municipal measures and addresses a small group of people who are increasingly spending time in the downtown area: “In Frankfurt’s station district, law enforcement agencies have stepped up their efforts against the scene there. As a result, some individuals—who are visibly using drugs—have moved to other cities in the Rhine-Main region. We are prepared for this in Mainz. The existing services provided by the Office for Social Assistance and the Youth Welfare Office are important and necessary points of contact for reaching people in need of support. In addition, we must ensure that public spaces remain safe and accessible for everyone. And we must take consistent action when people draw attention to themselves through criminal offenses or violations of the rules. We take the concerns of residents and of people in the vicinity of the main train station seriously. Thanks to an increased police presence, improved lighting, and a consistent approach to addressing crimes and public order violations, the situation around the main train station has noticeably improved since the summer.” 

The various measures are interlinked: The support services provide access to counseling, care, housing, and ongoing assistance. The regulatory measures serve to ensure public safety and order. The city administration coordinates these efforts with the relevant agencies and nonprofit organizations.