Stock Photo - 18 November 2022, Saxony-Anhalt, Magdeburg: No light is burning in the windows of a high-rise residential building in the capital of Saxony-Anhalt. In order to avoid delays in the transfer of housing subsidies, the CEO of the German Association of Towns and Municipalities advocates uncomplicated advance payment at the beginning of the year. Normally, the offices would need five to seven months to process the applications, but due to the multiplication of applications, this would now take even longer. Because of the high energy prices, however, people are dependent on the housing allowance, so a quick and uncomplicated solution is necessary. Photo: Klaus-Dietmar Gabbert/dpa. - Magdeburg/Saxony-Anhalt/Germany