Cooperation within the scope of the Social City project

The support program, „Social City“, has been in existence since 1999. It is dedicated to city  sections with special development needs, for the improvement of housing and living conditions with the aid of widely diversified measures. Approximately 260 German cities and communities currently profit from this. By 2004 alone, the coalition provided financial assistance of over 400 million euros for this.

The basis of Social City is the „integrated action plant“. After realizing that structural measures alone do not suffice to avoid social and economic problems, an approach was developed that includes a network of all of the people/actors of a certain section of the city concerned: clubs, businesses, social agencies, schools, child daycare centers, housing associations, labor administration, business development, cultural events and much more.

Nassauische Heimstätte and Wohnstadt have been participants as important partners in North and South Hesse since the beginning of the support program. Many of the tenants have already profited from this engagement: in previous projects, both large and small, of both companies (around 100), the neighborhood was improved and incentives for a better neighborhood set. This includes, for example, quarter cafés, tree sponsorships, Mama learns German courses, senior meeting places, the construction of help networks, competent resettled persons counseling and much more.

Fulda-Aschenberg
The emphasis of Social City Projects of Wohnstadt is – in addition to Hünfeld-Tiergartenviertel and Eschwege-Heuberg – the Fulda-Aschenberg district. The high-rise estate, typical of the 60s, lies on the Aschenberg plateau. Around 10,000 people live here, many young people and resettled persons among them. Wohnstadt, which rents almost 600 apartments in this area, previously supported approximately 18 projects here, some of which  are already concluded, others ongoing.

For example, in 2000, the company erected a new building on its Adenauerstraße 8–12 property, the size of a double garage, in which young Germans and emigrants of German origin from East European States without professional prospects can learn basic skills for a trade for the project „Plant Arbor“. The social support of this measure is Diakonische Werk.

The employment project, „BergWerk“, is also well accepted. For four years, Wohnstadt has provided a low-rent apartment, which it converted with the help of the support program for these purposes. The BergWerk serves the youth of Aschenberg as a place of refuge, in which they can develop professional and social expertise. They receive work opportunities as moving assistants or service providers with jobs around the apartment houses. With direction, they perform cleaning work on playgrounds and garbage areas and remove the mess after „bulk pick-up days“. Four different social agencies lead the project, in which „young delinquents“ become „young helpers“, who identify more with their district.

Frankfurt-Unterliederbach
From the over 70 Social City projects so far, in which Nassauische Heimstätte was in charge or active, approximately ten are allotted to the Frankfurt district of Unterliederbach-Ost. Approximately 3,300 people live in this quarter; it has no center and offers only a few  opportunities for daily needs. On the one hand, quite a few children and young people live here; on the other hand, quite a few seniors over 70.

Many other activities contribute to better cooperation in the city quarter, such as the neighborhood conflict intervention founded by the inhabitants themselves and the  neighborhood associations. The company provides the former gardener‘s house of the state-owned enterprise for the latter.

Neighborhood prize of the city of Frankfurt
This prize is awarded annually within the scope of the municipal program „Social City - New Neighborhoods“ as an expression of the appreciation of the multitude of approaches of the efforts for better neighborhood cooperation. The goal of the award presentation is the advancement and acknowledgment of the engagement and special services of individual persons or groups in the activation of a lively neighborhood.

The annual competition is announced in two categories: Category I is oriented towards existing groups and individual initiatives that can show positive results and developments. Category II is oriented to group activities / initiatives that are in planning and design.

In 2009 there were again three laureates that are employed in Nassausiche Heimstätte properties.

Social City Locations

Contact person:
Tanja Steinke
Tel. 069 6069-1138
Mail: tanja.steinke@naheimst.de