Award for Housing First project for women

An informational brochure on the Housing First program is available at a press event at the counseling center.

The Social Service of Catholic Women in Berlin (Sozialdienst katholischer Frauen Berlin) has received an award for its Housing First project.

Representatives of the association received the Louise Schroeder Medal in the House of Representatives on Wednesday evening. With the award, the parliament honored the project's contribution to ending homelessness among women in Berlin.

Housing First approach: Housing placement as a first step

The Housing First project has been providing homeless women in Berlin with uncomplicated housing since 2018 so that they can once again lead a dignified, self-determined life and are better protected from violence. Previously, these women had to fulfill many requirements, for example taking on debts or getting substance addiction treatment first. Many failed to fulfill these requirements. Offering these women housing is a first step of the Housing First approach; they are also offered educational and psychological support afterwards. According to the Senate Department for Social Services, 77 apartments have been found for homeless women in the course of the project so far. Six of these apartments were given to women with children.

Successful model to be expanded

Senator for Social Services Cansel Kiziltepe (SPD) announced: "We want to further expand this successful model in the coming years in order to help even more homeless people." In the coming budget, she said, significantly more money has been earmarked for this purpose than in previous years. "I now wish for many landlords to participate in Housing First as well, because the waiting lists are long." The Louise Schroeder Medal has been awarded since 1998 to personalities or institutions that have rendered services to democracy, peace, social justice and gender equality. The SPD politician Louise Schroeder (1887-1957) was mayor of Berlin from May 1947 to December 1948.