Awarded: SkF e.V. Berlin receives Louise Schröder Medal 2023 for Housing First for Women

Berlin, 31.08.2023

Yesterday, the Housing First project for women sponsored by Sozialdienst katholischer Frauen e.V. Berlin (SkF) received the highest award of the Berlin House of Representatives, the Louise Schröder Medal, from the President of the House of Representatives, Cornelia Seibeld. The laudatory speech was held by Professor Dr. Bettina Völter, Rector of the Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin.

In her acceptance speech, Dr. Dagmar Löttgen, Chairwoman of the Board of the SkF, emphasized the similarities between Louise Schröder and Agnes Neuhaus, the founder of the Social Service of Catholic Women. Throughout their lives, both campaigned for social justice and equal rights for women and children. “What these two outstanding women fought for so long ago for women is still bearing fruit today – even with Housing First for women under the auspices of SkF e.V. Berlin. We are committed to this work,” says Löttgen. “It is a great honor and an incentive for our future work.”

Since the end of 2018, Housing First for Women has taken a new approach to homeless women with multiple problems. The aim of the project is to end the women’s homelessness by renting an apartment with their own tenancy agreement and thus regain a dignified, self-determined life. In the first three years of the pilot phase, the project has already acquired 40 apartments (we have now placed 77 apartments with homeless women since 2018, 6 of which went to women with children). The women’s living situation has improved in many respects, particularly in the areas of health, satisfaction and social issues. In addition, finding an apartment of their own provides a safe haven from violence, to which homeless women are particularly exposed.