Mayor Sabine Groß visits advice center for housing preservation and security

Accommodation, living space and retreat, home and homeland, space for family and friends: a home is many things and it is fundamental. Because only a fixed address makes it possible to stand on one's own two feet, to arrive, to put down roots and to think about the future. That is why it is also subject to special protection: Article 13 of the German Basic Law guarantees the inviolability of the home and protects spatial privacy. But what happens when people are threatened with losing their home for whatever reason? Who helps if they can no longer pay the rent due to job loss or mental health problems and an eviction action is likely? In order that people in the city of Offenbach can receive help and support to secure their livelihood in such an emergency situation, a housing security office has been set up in Offenbach. The Wohnungssicherungsstelle started work on Monday, July 1, and provides preventative care for people who are at risk of losing their home.

Mayor Sabine Groß visited the advice center last Friday, August 30. "The creation of a housing protection center was very important to me," says the mayor. Especially in large cities with a tight housing market, it is important to prevent people from losing their homes. This is ultimately very stressful and a deep cut, Groß continues: "It may mean moving into emergency accommodation and thus losing many personal belongings that cannot be taken with you due to lack of space. This can also affect pets, which are not allowed in the emergency accommodation. It also affects children who cannot help the situation, who cannot invite friends to the emergency accommodation and who have little space and peace and quiet to study. We want to spare as many people as possible from this and I am glad that we were able to find an experienced partner to implement this." Last but not least, accommodation in emergency shelters is associated with high costs for the city.

With FIP Frankfurter Privatinstitut für Psychische Gesundheit - Teilhabe GmbH, a company with many years of experience in working with people with special circumstances is taking over the area of housing security in Offenbach. They know: "Everyone has strengths, even if these may be buried due to current crises. It is often not easy to seek help in times of crisis. However, it is by no means a weakness to be unable to move on alone and seek advice or long-term professional support. In fact, it takes courage to take this step."

The counseling and office space is centrally located on the market square at Ziegelstraße 8. The office is open from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with open consultation hours on Mondays from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Individual appointments are of course possible.