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Mit dem deutlichen Anstieg der Zuwanderung Geflüchteter seit Mitte der 2010er-Jahre stehen die Städte und Gemeinden mit ihrer kommunalen Ausländer- und Migrationspolitik vor neuen Herausforderungen der gesellschaftlichen Integration. Die Bewältigung dieser Herausforderungen erfolgt im Zusammenspiel verschiedener, zum Teil neuer lokaler Akteure aus dem öffentlichen (z. B. kommunale Verwaltung, Wohlfahrtsorganisationen), privatwirtschaftlichen (z. B. Arbeitgeber) und zivilgesellschaftlichen Bereich (z. B. ehrenamtliche Initiativen). In diesem Beitrag werden die verschiedenen Logiken zentraler, am Integrationsprozess beteiligter Akteure beleuchtet, um aufzuzeigen, wer unter welchen Voraussetzungen die Integrationsbedingungen vor Ort in welcher Weise gestaltet und steuert. Die Untersuchung wurde in zwei unterschiedlichen lokalen Kontexten, der Stadt Köln und dem Kreis Heinsberg, mit dem Ziel durchgeführt, Unterschiede und Gemeinsamkeiten lokaler Governance aufzuzeigen. Die Ergebnisse beruhen auf 29 Experteninterviews mit Vertretern der Stadt- und Kreisverwaltungen, der Stadtgesellschaften und der Landesebene, die im Rahmen beruflicher oder ehrenamtlicher Tätigkeit am Integrationsprozess Geflüchteter beteiligt sind. Im Ergebnis zeigen sich bei einigen Maßnahmen der Integrationspolitik verschiedene Handlungslogiken. Dies trifft erstens für das Verhältnis zwischen staatlichen Akteuren der Bundes- und Landesebene und kommunalen Akteuren zu. Dies trifft zweitens aber auch auf das Verhältnis zwischen kommunalen und zivilgesellschaftlichen Akteuren zu. Dabei spielen die räumlichen und situativen Kontexte eine differenzierende Rolle.

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 integration of refugees with prospects of remaining in the country has noticeably shifted into the focus of public attention and is presently being addressed in numerous research projects as well. Our contribution aims to address the significance, which the various contacts or networks, respectively, hold for the integration of the refugees. Issues of particular interest are how contacts to friends and families are maintained, what role these contacts play in the refugees' daily lives, how new social contacts are established in the arrival context, and which factors may ease or hinder the creation of new contacts. Based on the assumption that integration processes of migrants and refugees are influenced to a large extent by the prevailing local context, we investigated whether there are differences between a metropolitan situation (city of Cologne) and a small or medium-sized setting (district of Heinsberg) in the social contacts and networks of the refugees. In both distinct local contexts, which are located in North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany), we conducted qualitative interviews with 41 refugees in total. All interviews were recorded, subsequently transcribed and analysed using a largely inductive category scheme. Due to the exceptional situation of the flight and the assignment of a place of residence by the state, similarly escaped relatives and friends from the past usually live in other parts of Germany or even in other countries, and therefore cannot serve as a localised network to cushion the individual's arrival. Within the arrival context, contacts to other refugees who share the same or a similar background and language provide an important source of practical support and emotional backing. Bridging ties to members of the receiving society are most likely to be established through language courses and volunteer initiatives. Here, the openness and proactive attitude of the refugees prove to be an important factor. The metropolis offers abundant opportunities for new but fleeting social contacts. In the context of small and medium-sized towns, the greater manageability imbues the newly developing networks with greater stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]