The federal government supports the Leipziger JugendWohnen

The Jugendhaus Leipzig e.V. with the help of the Federal Ministry of Youth is expanding its range of help for young people and young families in the project "Creating Foundations - LeipzigerJugendWohnen". At the start of the second construction phase on 31 August 2018, Franziska Giffey, Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, handed over the promise of support from the Federal Innovation Fund. The amount will be increased from 75,000 to 125,000 euros.

The association initiative is one of three innovation projects in Germany in the field of youth social work to receive support from the fund programme. "We want every young person to look to the future with confidence," says Franziska Giffey. "That's why it's important to support projects that help young people take their lives into their own hands and go their own way. I am delighted to be able to support this successful project with an additional 50,000 euros.

In "LeipzigerJugendWohnen" in Bornaische Strasse 96/98, young people who have almost no chance on the regular housing market, who have already been homeless or who can no longer live at home for various reasons are enabled to manage their own rental area. To this end, the association has rented two houses from Leipziger Wohnungs- und Baugesellschaft mbH (LWB). After the refurbishment of the first building was completed in mid-2018 and the tenants were able to move in, the neighboring building, Bornaische Strasse 96, is now due for completion.
 
In the refurbishment, which started in 2017, LWB and the association are also breaking new ground together. In addition to future residents, young people from the network of small workshops of the Leipzig Vocational Training Center and LWB apprentices have been involved in the work. This is an approach with multiple benefits: As tenants cleared out rooms, removed stoves and wallpaper, the value of their own homes grew. In turn, the commercial trainees of the municipal landlord have the opportunity to accompany a complex building project, apply theoretical knowledge and improve practical skills. All work is professionally supervised by trainers. In addition, the costs of the refurbishment were reduced and thus the future rent could be influenced favourably.
 
The Jugendhaus Leipzig e.V. is receiving a grant of 75,000 euros from the federal innovation fund for the socio-pedagogically accompanied renovation of the 20 one- to three-room apartments with sizes between 30 and 70 square metres. This sum was increased by 50,000 euros to a total of 125,000 euros when Federal Minister Franziska Giffey started the second construction phase on 31 August 2018. The LWB has invested around 350,000 euros in the rehabilitation of Bornaische Strasse 98. For the second construction phase, the municipal company is planning expenditure of up to 400,000 euros.

With the completion of both buildings, the Jugendhaus Leipzig e.V. will not only be able to double its housing supply, but also create space for young families. Social pedagogues and social workers of the association support the residents in coping with everyday life and in managing their own flat. "There are hardly any offers on the Leipzig housing market for both target groups, young people and young families, who have already been homeless or can no longer live at home for various reasons," reports Rainer Dietrich, managing director of the association. The city of Leipzig also supports the project. Dietrich: "The municipality pays the costs for the pedagogical support.

Under the roof of Bornaische Strasse 96/98, the LWB's residential school is located next to "LeipzigerJugendWohnen". This educational project for adolescents, unique in Germany, was largely developed by LWB trainees. They are the teachers in the residential school and teach peers the ABCs of independent and responsible living in theory and practice. The residential school is financed by the LWB, is free of charge for the participants and independent of a tenancy. A social education worker from the Jugendhaus Leipzig e.V. is also one of the "teachers".