Berlin's Tempelhof Shelter Faces Alcohol and Mental Health Crises Among Refugees

Around 1,825 people currently live in emergency shelters and Tempohomes at Berlin's former Tempelhof Airport. The site includes 1,050 residents in container units inside the hangars and another 775 in nearby Tempohomes. Authorities have raised concerns about alcohol-related issues among a small but vulnerable group of residents. A group of 50 to 60 individuals at the shelter struggles with heavy drinking, mostly older people with long-term alcohol dependency. While alcohol is banned inside the facility, enforcement outside remains a challenge. Serious conflicts linked to drinking occur roughly once a month.

In 2022, three refugees died from alcohol poisoning at the site. Since then, two suicides have been recorded—one in 2023 and another in 2024—alongside two attempted suicides this year alone.

To address these issues, the shelter has increased support services. More staff fluent in Russian and Ukrainian have been hired, and outreach programmes now target heavy drinkers. Additional psychologists, many trained in Ukraine, have also joined the team. Cansel Kiziltepe, Berlin's Senator for Labour, Social Affairs, and Integration, confirmed that all incidents are logged and reviewed for further action. The shelter continues to adapt its support systems in response to ongoing challenges. With expanded counselling and multilingual staff, authorities aim to reduce risks for vulnerable residents. However, alcohol-related problems persist among a small but high-risk group.