If you try to approach disorganised living by means of facts and figures, you will soon reach your limits: the topic is so taboo that there are no statistics on it in Germany. The estimates made by public institutions and social services vary widely, so only one thing is clear: the number of undocumented cases is high. After all, no one likes to admit that their own home is so full as to be unlivable.

Contrary to popular opinion, you cannot tell how people live by looking at them: “It could be your colleague from the neighbouring office or the well-dressed gentleman sitting next to you on the train,” says AdeLe project head Andreas Langer. “Disorganised living can occur in every stratum of the population, rich and poor, men and women, old and young, singles, couples or families.” There is no pattern for recognition – on the contrary: many people whose living situation has got out of control have developed impressive strategies to keep up appearances. Andreas Langer believes that this is almost an art of survival.

An art, however, that is also a cry for help, because disorganised homes are always only symptoms of deeper-seated problems. Support systems should therefore be put in place at this point, but they are not always available: “Depending on the region, we have a massive problem in supporting people living in disorganised conditions when it comes to assuming responsibility and authority,” says Langer.

In Hamburg, for example – the place where AdeLe concentrates its efforts – there is no comprehensive support concept, and those affected often do not know where to turn. Anyone who has ever been sent from one office to another with the words “that’s not our responsibility” knows how frustrating this can be. People who are already overwhelmed with their normal lifestyle have no chance at all in a situation like that. Langer puts it drastically: “A support system like this not only exacerbates the problem but is actually the problem itself.”

Out of social isolation in three phases

For this reason, the researchers involved in the AdeLe project have not limited themselves to a mere stocktaking but have developed an intervention concept that can help people in disorganised living situations. In three steps, they accompany them out of the social isolation caused by their living situation.

First, it is necessary to win the trust of the persons concerned and to solve the most urgent problems – such as postponing impending eviction proceedings or calming smouldering conflicts. The second phase focuses on specific support and monitoring, which also includes finding out why people have ended up in such a desolate housing situation; afterwards, the home and the lives of those affected are carefully cleaned up. In phase three, sporadic monitoring for about another year is usually enough to stabilise the situation.

Fourteen test persons have already gone through the programme and, according to project head Langer, are now again living in decent housing conditions. Sixteen more people are currently being monitored before the project comes to an end.

Targeted support pays dividends – financially as well

The researchers have calculated that continuing the programme would also be financially worthwhile: every euro invested in targeted support measures for people living in disorganised conditions pays off twice over. As part of a social return-on-investment (SRoI) study, they were able to demonstrate that such measures also benefit the general public and the social systems, because disorganised living situations often generate conflicts with neighbours or landlords, which then lead to eviction suits and homelessness.

Older people also suffer from health problems that are aggravated or caused by their disorganised living situation. This all places a much greater burden on the social security systems than an adequate system of support, but so many agencies are often involved in the existing support system that, according to Andreas Langer, it is difficult to argue successfully with an overall SRoI in this regard.

On 21 November 2019, the AdeLe project team invites the participating agencies in and around Hamburg to a final conference entitled “Disorganised Living in Hamburg – Needs, Concepts, Gaps in Care and Social Work” to share the experiences of the last three years. The team also plans to write a book explaining the concept of intervention and providing general guidelines for social services. The book will be supplemented by two short films that explain the concept from the point of view of those affected and the helpers. The project team hopes that this will further convince local politicians of the effectiveness of the concept and that it will be transferred to other regions where a support concept is lacking.

Langer and his team have already achieved one thing: they will continue their work for an additional year in a follow-up project with partners in Hamburg, focusing this time on disorganised living situations of families.