On Julius-Kiefer-Straße in Saarbrücken, the Wohnungsgesellschaft Saarland or, in short, WOGE Saar, has modernized one of its houses and prepared it for handicapped people. Now, 15 apartments, all of them suitable for older people and some of them barrier free, are available at the multi-family house which dates back from the nineteen-twenties. One of the apartments is the new home of an inclusive flat-sharing community which is attended by the Verein Miteinander Leben Lernen MLL. At the inauguration of the house, WOGE Saar´s Managing Director Rita Gindorf-Wagner has now handed over a symbolic key to Michael Burkert, Chairman of the Board of MLL. Also many colorful balloons with wishes of tenants and other attendees were released. State Secretary Jürgen Barke, too, attended the ceremony.
State Secretary Barke showed himself pleased: `The modernization of another building that is worth to be preserved and now enables new integrative types of housing here in St.Arnual is an important step for WOGE Saar. For investing into one´s own portfolio means being efficiently prepared to meet future challenges of the housing market`.
`I am glad that the core renovation of our buildings has perfectly prepared them to meet future market requirements . Furthermore, this is a contribution to foster self-determined living`, Gindorf-Wagner said with regard to Julius-Kiefer-Straße 68-70 near the contemplative Tabaksweiher. On a total area of 1,600 sq.m., the building offers 15 apartments from 32 to 95 sq.m. on four floors, ten parking places included. All apartments are adapted to the needs of older people and are partly suitable for wheelchairs. Two elevators ensure the accessibility of disabled persons All in all, the total cost of modernization elevated at about 2.45 million euros.
The first floor contains a 400 sq.m. apartment that has been rented by the MLL. Now, it is the new home of an inclusive flat-sharing community. Following its model project in the Nauwieser Viertel, the MLL now also offers integrative housing in St. Arnual. This means that handicapped and not handicapped young people share an apartment, help one another and learn from the other. The young roommates in assisting functions help their roommates in need of support to master their daily lifes and are there for discussions and leisure activities. In return, they do not have to pay a rent.
For Chairman of the Board Michael Burkert, `it is extremely valuable that we have opened another integrative flat-sharing community now. Enabling young handicapped people to live age-appropriately in a regular environment and to communicate with others of the same age is a big chance. This can only be realized if building conditions meet the needs of the individual persons and also correspond to the overall size of this residential group. Moreover, the pedagogical support and nursing care must be given. With the support of WOGE Saar we have achieved this`.
