Welfare Association: High Poverty Burden in Saxony-Anhalt - Saxony-Anhalt’s housing crisis leaves nearly a third struggling with costs
Saxony-Anhalt faces a severe housing poverty crisis, with nearly one in three residents affected. New figures from the Paritätische Welfare Association reveal that 28.9% of the population struggles with housing costs relative to their income. This places the state among the worst in Germany for housing deprivation.
In 2024, a single person in Saxony-Anhalt was classified as at risk of poverty if their monthly income fell below €1,200. This threshold, set at 60% of the median disposable income, highlights how many households struggle to cover basic living costs. The state’s overall poverty rate stands at 22.3%, matching the national average but lagging behind only Bremen, which has the highest rate at 33.4%.
Saxony-Anhalt’s housing poverty rate remains one of the highest in Germany, with systemic issues driving the crisis. Over 477,000 residents—many of them children and young adults—face financial hardship due to low incomes and rising living costs. Addressing the problem will require coordinated efforts across housing policy, wage growth, and social support systems.
