A German city offers free shelter to attract residents

A city in East Germany offers 2 weeks of free stay to attract new residents, according to the German DPA news agency.

Approved candidates will be given the opportunity to spend two weeks in a furnished apartment in the city of Eisenhunstadt, about 100 km southeast of Berlin between September 6 and 20, the municipality reported.

Like other regions in the former Communist East Germany, there is a strong decline in the population in the decades after the unification of Germany, with younger people moving to find a job elsewhere.

The tendency is deepening, said local government representative Julia Bazan, noting that the population has decreased from over 50,000 to about 24,000 in recent years.

Eisenhunstadt is located near the border with Poland and was founded in 1950, when workers from a steel factory were housed there. It was originally planned for 30,000 inhabitants and it is the first city in East Germany, whose construction was planned.

From 1953 to 1961 the city was named Stalinstadt.

The resident attraction program is aimed at anyone who would want to move to Eisenhunstadt. Successful candidates will receive the opportunity for internships and visits to local companies.

Similar plans have been undertaken in other cities in Germany, which are also struggling with a decreasing population.