Neukölln opens Safe Places for the homeless

Neukölln opens Safe Places for the homeless

From 2024, the first Safe Places in Neukölln will open on Hertzbergstrasse. These living boxes offer affected people a temporary retreat and are intended to help close the gap between the accommodation of homeless people and the voluntary whereabouts on the street. The project was presented on January 22, 2024 by the Neuköllner district councilor for social affairs Hannes Rehfeldt and involved institutions. The approximately 3 square meter lockable living boxes should offer homeless people protection against weather influences, violence and theft and serve as temporary home with a minimum level of privacy.

The Safe Places were created by the Union of social institutions (use) gGmbH as part of the inclusive work with people with impairments. There is also a mobile toilet on the area and the opportunity to dispose of garbage. The project also includes regular care through excessive social work, which is ensured by My Way Social Dienste gGmbH on behalf of the Neukölln district office. The main goal of this offer is to stabilize affected people in terms of health, psychosocial and emotionally in order to create the possibility of Integration into the rules of social security.

District City Councilor Hannes Rehfeldt emphasized that the Safe Places not only offer the affected people a retreat and privacy, but also an opportunity to integrate back into the middle of society. He made it clear that the Safe Places are not intended as a permanent living space or as a replacement for existing emergency accommodation, but rather as a first step towards overcoming homelessness.

also Marco Schulze, Managing Director of My Way Social Services gGmbH, emphasized that Safe Places is a low -threshold offer for homeless people and should serve as the first step towards overcoming homelessness. The aim is to accompany the people concerned into the existing housing military system.

The living boxes were created as part of the inclusive work with people with impairments by the use gGmbH. Ulrike Hinrichs, Managing Director of the Unionhilfswerk Social Unit gGmbH, emphasized that the doors of the Terra contact and advice center are open if the users of the living boxes want to use the diverse offers from the garden group to the open meeting to psychosocial advice.

It is planned to expand this model project in the event of success in order to offer even more homeless people a temporary retreat and support. The Safe Places should help stabilize affected people and to integrate them into the existing housing silver silver system. The following table provides an overview of the Safe Places in Neukölln:

| Name of the project | Safe Places in Neukölln |
| ——————— | ———————- |
| Location | Hertzbergstrasse |
| Size of the living boxes | approx. 3 square meters |
| Care by | My Way Social Services gGmbH |
| Production of the living boxes | Union of social institutions (use) gGmbH |
| Main goal | Stabilization of homeless people |
| Additional offers | Mobile toilet, waste disposal, regular care through excessive social work |

should the project be successful, it could serve as a model for other similar projects in other districts and thus make an important contribution to the support of homeless people in Berlin.

Source: www.berlin.de