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The integration of a high number of refugees in Germany is intensely discussed in political and civil society. The aim of this article is to explore refugees' paths into the housing market and the impact on refugees' integration into urban society. For a comprehensive insight into the housing situation of the refugees, we have chosen the city of Cologne because it is one of the four largest German cities. To highlight different perspectives, we conducted guided interviews with representatives of local governmental and nongovernmental institutions that are engaged with the housing situation of refugees. Additionally, we interviewed 21 refugees mainly from Syria, Iraq, and Iran. The statements of both groups show a difficult transition from refugee accommodation into the housing market. In the highly competitive situation, refugees rarely manage to access this market through common paths. Social networks proved to be most important to finding an apartment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of the family in the international migration of highly skilled migrants has often been disregarded. Highly skilled labour migrants follow a concrete job offer abroad and are structurally integrated into the new environment through the work place. On the contrary, the migration of family members is subject to different conditions since most accompanying partners initially do not work. However, accompanying partners are described as managers of the settling-in process of the whole family [Yeoh, Brenda, and Katie Willis. 2004. “Constructing Masculinities in Transnational Space: Singapore Men on the ‘Regional Beat’.” InTransnational Spaces, edited by Peter Jackson, Philip Crang, and Claire Dwyer, 147–163. London: Routledge] and their experiences can be crucial for the duration of their stay. Our paper explores the experiences of mobility of highly skilled migrants’ accompanying partners in Germany and in the UK with regard to their strategies and practices during the settling-in process. The main focus is on the role of language, the establishment of new social networks and labour market participation. The paper draws on the concept of capital accumulation and conversion [Bourdieu, Pierre. 1986. “The Forms of Capital.” InEducation: Culture, Economy, and Society, edited by Albert Henry Halsey, 46–58. New York: Oxford University Press] and asks how partners make use of their cultural capital language after migration. Our paper is based on empirical studies in Germany and in the UK, which focus on the migration and settling-in processes of highly skilled professionals and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The social model for old age is a self-determined and socially integrated life for as long as possible. In this regard, different settings offer different conditions. The article investigates which living conditions best meet the needs of elderly people. It is based on results from the FRAME (leisure mobility of elderly people) research project, which examines the everyday mobility of persons aged 60 and older in different urban settings. The results show that an active lifestyle is possible in all the study areas, but that the preconditions for withdrawal into one's own neighbourhood vary between different residential areas. In general, the importance of basic supply resources and leisure facilities within the residential environment and a preferably rail-bound public transport connection to the city centre need to be pointed out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]