On Monday, December 11, 2023, at 11:00 a.m., Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited Housing First for Women and Eva’s Haltestelle at Müllerstraße 126, both facilities of the women-specific homeless assistance of the Sozialdienst katholischer Frauen e. V. Berlin (SkF).
The head of state was welcomed by Dr. Dagmar Löttgen, Chairwoman of the SkF Board, and Rita Brandt, Managing Director of the SkF, before speaking to participating women from “Housing First for Women Berlin”. They had experienced homelessness in the past and were able to find their own accommodation with their own tenancy agreement thanks to the SkF project. Employees of the project reported on their daily work with homeless women, the challenges of acquiring housing and pointed out the need for the project to be made permanent.
Claudia Peiter, an employee of Eva’s Haltestelle, then gave the Federal President a tour of the day shelter for homeless women, which is also open as an emergency overnight stay for women from November to March as part of the cold weather aid program. On this occasion, the Federal President got to know the team of volunteers in the kitchen and helped them prepare a vegetable stew and serve hot drinks. During the daily breakfast, personal conversations were held with visitors who feel accepted and cared for by the women-specific services offered by Eva’s Haltestelle.
“We have been told that the provision of a home, that the home itself, not only enables dignity, but also independence and is the core from which a life can stabilize again. That’s why Eva’s Haltestelle and Housing First for women are very important facilities in the fight against homelessness, 365 days a year,” said Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
“We are delighted that Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is visiting our facilities. In doing so, he is focusing on a pressing issue in our society: homelessness among women and mothers with children. We at the SkF have been active in helping the homeless for more than 20 years and are working to alleviate homelessness. The Federal President’s visit and his words of appreciation for the SkF’s commitment to helping the homeless gives us a boost for our work,” said Dr. Dagmar Löttgen, Chairwoman of the Board of the SkF Berlin.
Copyright Bundesregierung/Denzel – bilderdienst@bpa.bund.de
Team Evas Haltestelle with volunteers and Housing First for Women with Dr. Dagmar Löttgen, Chairwoman of the Board (to the right of the Federal President) and third from the right of the Federal President, Rita Brandt (Managing Director of the SkF).
Background information:
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 regaining a dignified, self-determined life. Since 2018, the project has already placed 86 apartments with homeless women, 8 of which went to women with children. The women’s living situation has improved in many ways, particularly in the areas of health, satisfaction and social life. Housing stability is very high. In addition, the placement
of their own apartment provides a shelter from violence, to which homeless women are particularly exposed.
In August of this year, Housing First for Women was awarded the Louise Schroeder Medal.
Evas Haltestelle offers women who are homeless and living on the street or at risk of losing their home a safe place where they can find peace, exchange and support. As part of the cold weather aid, the emergency winter shelter for women with 20 places is open from November to March. Here, homeless women are offered shelter and a place to sleep during the cold season. Homeless women can meet their basic needs for food, sleep, personal and laundry care and companionship at Eva’s Haltestelle. In addition to this basic care, there is also the offer of socio-pedagogical advice in the various
problem situations.
