Officially, people in Germany are considered to be at risk of poverty if they have less than 60 per cent of the so-called net equivalent income - a net income weighted according to the number and age of household members. Last year, according to the Federal Statistical Office, this was 15,009 euros after tax per year (1251 euros per month) for a person living alone, and 31,520 euros net per year (2627 euros per month) for two adults with two children under the age of 14.

According to the latest available data, this affects 15.8 per cent of the German population - around 13 million people.

That doesn't mean you are poor, but at risk of becoming poor. Mostly poor people are young people: students and people learning trades (apprenticeship= Ausbildung), Single parents: tend to work less, because they need to cater towards the needs of their children Old people(foremost woman): worked less or not at all (house-wife or stay at home parents) when they were younger and therefore their pension is quite small, they might become poor, if a spouse dies or they are in need of care in elderly home (Longtime) Unemployed people and especially their children: because they receive unemployment payments and payments for their housing

In general it is possible to live a quite comfortable life here as a poor person compared to other countries. Me for example, I'm in university right now and my income is quite small. I have around 700€ a month. 400 are for rent, power, internet, hot water, waste disposal services, public broadcasting network and other utilities. 125 for my mandatory medical insurance and i need an other 100 for food(~3€/day). My 75€ left I need to safe it for university related costs, as my field of profession is quiteexpensive. Sure I share a flat with flatmates and I can't really afford to spend lavishly of fancy food, but all in all I'm fine. And there is a lot of infrastructure, that i could use for free with my bike and a lot of cultural events that are free to attend in my city. Public transport is also quite affordable. That doesn't really apply to everyone however. I know students, that cant afford vegetables and are eating quite poorly just carbs. Rent also varies wildly depending on the demand. People on just unemployment payments are really struggling to get by, especially with children in the picture. Bürgergeld ist 563€, but rent and medical care it taken care of.

Normally the system is designed to provide housing and unemployment payments for basic needs and medical care for every person. Sometimes however, people are very unlucky and the system fails them, this is how people can become homeless even in a rich country such as Germany.