Berlin currently consists of 12 districts, they vary in size, population density, social level, quality of living and richness. There are districts that are richer than others, where people face less social problems and the basic facilities like parks, infrastructure and social infrastructure are of good quality such as areas in Steglitz-Zehlendorf, Pankow or Treptow-Koepenick (analyzed from the indicators-Map).

With the Monitoring Social Urban Development Berlin (MSS), the socio-structural

Development of the sub-areas of Berlin on a small-scale level  is investigating dividing Berlin into 447 planning areas (PLR) in order to identify areas with an increased need for attention to urban development policy (SensWe, Monitoring Soziale Stadtentwicklung 2019).

The funding programme works in areas where municipal standard care can no longer guarantee the equivalent development of a district and its people in relation to the city as a whole (risk of exclusion) (QM-Berlin, 2021)

Currently there are 32 Areas located in 9 out of 12 districts in Berlin that are defined as Neighborhood-Management-Areas (NMA). These are usually deprived areas within the district that need more attention and care. (QM-Berlin, 2021).  1 January 2006, the Lebensweltlich oriented Räume (LOR) were created in Berlin as part of the Regional Reference system Berlin (RBS). The LOR divides Berlin according to building structure, milieu formation, large streets as well as natural barriers and serves as a spatial level for socio-spatial planning. On the smallest scale, the LOR comprise of 447 planning rooms (since 2018), which is also used as a spatial level for the Monitoring Social Urban Development used (SensWe, Monitoring Soziale Stadtentwicklung 2019).