Acknowledging that my perception might be skewed because there are still a ton of social safety nets in place.

The same might not be true everywhere.

Last time I was in Germany I saw what appeared to be homeless children

Did they look Ukrainian or Syrian? Germany let in millions of people over the last few years and never built enough housing.

This is totally incorrect. Germany is literally giving out housing for almost free.

No, I'm not stupid or lying.

And yes, it's true. It's just that this housing is not in Berlin.

"Built enough" may sound like the same thing as "giving out housing for almost free", but it isn't. Also, cheap temporary emergency housing for a sudden extra burst of refugees may be inappropriate for permanent occupancy, I believe this is an example, it's certainly containerised/temporary *something*: https://maps.app.goo.gl/HUyQS6Sc1w1Y8GUH6?g_st=ic

That said, an idea has come to mind: UK and Italy have had schemes where a home can be purchased for £1/€1 under the condition the new owner repairs them (the repairs would cost 20-150k). Given some of the really bad stock I've seen in some searches, this may be a good idea for Germany too.

I'm talking about places like Eisenhüttenstadt where you can find a regular apartment for rent for 300€ a month. Market rate.

And yes, you can find even cheaper apartments.

Welfare doesn't entirely eliminate homelessness.

It's… like… not that simple.

Last time I was in Germany I saw elderly people going through garbage bins in the park I sat at. I think you overestimate the safety net in Germany. In my European country the elderly sit at cafes drinking coffee, not going through bins.

Update:

Every street corner has a yellow garbage bin for recycling. That is where your plastic bottles go. Seems like a better system than having elderly going through bins.

Maybe in your country they also don't have a deposit on bottles/cans, making it pointless to go through trash cans?

Plastic bottles go in the yellow recycling bin. Deposit systems are dumb.

They reduce bottle litter by a lot a lot.

Not OP but many people eligible for social benefits don't seek it, for all kinds of reasons (not knowing about it, pride, ideology, peer pressure, ...)

They make it that way on purpose, to save money.

Who is "they" and what specific actions are they taking?

The government that runs the benefits programs. They make you jump through hoops to get any benefits. The first hoop is even knowing that a program exists that you qualify for.

But then they also pay social workers to guide you through the steps of applying and receiving this support. Sometimes the biggest hurdle is to get to know what you don't know.

Keep in mind that not every old person who searches garbage bins is actually poor. Some of them just have dementia. I personally know such people in my home town.

That's why I said "mostly"

It's the 'gift-economy'.

https://pfandring.de/

"My trash, a flash of joy.

For the poor people.

Enabling me, the blissful sheeple,

to consume on with abandon.

Everybody won."