"AusBlick": Looking to the future from your own four walls

The innovative youth housing project "AusBlick" was established in Offenbach at the end of 2022. An opportunity for motivated young people to escape homelessness and a precarious housing situation and focus on the important things that are currently on the agenda, namely school, training or work.

On behalf of the Offenbach Job Center, MainArbeit and in cooperation with the Stadtwerke subsidiary GBO Gemeinnützige Baugesellschaft mbH Offenbach, KIZ PROWINA provides housing for young people under 25. In one 1-room apartment and three 2-room apartments, which are centrally located in Offenbach, they are given the opportunity to tackle their future and learn to stand on their own two feet.

How the living space is furnished is up to the participants themselves. They should feel comfortable and create an atmosphere in which it is easy for them to plan and prepare their future paths. Of course, this is new and unfamiliar for most people at first. What do you have to look out for in your first four walls, what rights and obligations come with it? Starting with painting the apartment, choosing and assembling furniture, finding the right electricity provider, cleaning your own rooms and cleaning the shared stairwell. The coaches from KIZ PROWINA provide support with all aspects and questions relating to housing. For at least six months, residents have the opportunity to continue planning and tackling their future in their first home. However, the aim is also to find their own long-term accommodation during this time.

Since the start of the project, ten young people have already received effective and sustainable support. The very first resident was a success story. In her one-bedroom apartment, she finally found the peace and quiet she needed to find the kind of work she enjoys. "I previously lived in emergency accommodation and most recently with my boyfriend's family of six in a small apartment. Finally having a space where I can be by myself and concentrate on finding a job has helped me enormously," says the young woman. So it was no wonder that she found a permanent job and was able to move into her own apartment after just five months.

One young man had already endured a two-year odyssey of homelessness before he came to "AusBlick". By participating in the housing project and the associated support from the coaches, he and his flatmate were able to see extremely positive developments. A MainArbeit employee confirms: "Both participants have become much more independent and have made huge progress in their personal development." One of the two is currently catching up on his secondary school leaving certificate, the second has found a job. Both have already moved into their own apartments.

The opportunity to take part in the housing project secured the ongoing training of another participant. His previous, precarious housing situation and the associated uncertainty as to where he would sleep next put such a strain on him that he was barely able to concentrate on his training. "AusBlick" gave him security and time to breathe, which he needed to focus on his training again. He is now so stable that he was also able to move into his own apartment in August.

Most of the apartments that have become vacant are now occupied. The multi-stage selection process specially designed for the project is currently underway. In this process, potential participants must prove that they appreciate the offer and have the will and motivation to finish school, start an apprenticeship or enter employment.

The courage of the Offenbach players involved was rewarded. Head of Social Affairs Martin Wilhelm summarizes: "With "Outlook", MainArbeit has taken a new and innovative approach to tackling the problem of homelessness among young people. The apartments rented out through the cooperation partner GBO are an important pillar of this." The municipal building society supports the project with suitable apartments, which it selects and provides in line with the needs of the young people.

The participants are accompanied and actively supported by the KIZ PROWINA team with a great deal of passion and commitment. After almost twelve months, we can look back on a successful project that has already paved the way to a positive future for ten young people.