Action Alliance against Housing Shortage and Urban Degradation, Newsletter 140
Palmstraße 19
Kalle Gerigk had announced a protest rally against the eviction in front of the house for June 1, 2023. To protect the property, the police were on site with a large contingent. For the protection of the people in the OMZ in Gummersbacher Straße one rarely saw such a posse.
https://www.express.de/koeln/zwangsraeumung-von-koelns-aeltester-wg-in-der-palmstrasse-583035
Cologne’s oldest residential community must move out
https://www1.wdr.de/nachrichten/rheinland/koeln-aelteste-wohngemeinschaft-kuendigung-100.html
Andre Salentin after the eviction of the OMZ
I am really sorry for my behavior
That I mention here now
But somewhere there is also a point before the end
Now that the OMZ project is over
and the city of Cologne has now finished everything
I see myself in this current situation with my nervous breakdown as failed.
What I find absolutely outrageous
that the city of Cologne
tells so much shit in public,
in order to talk itself out of it,
but to denounce and sue others themselves
Only then does not have the balls
for their shit they have committed
to stand up for it
and blame others,
It’s inhumane,
It’s inhumane,
what happened,
and I find such dignity
of such a great city
quite honestly
You should be ashamed of yourselves.
When I look at this crap now
I would plead
One would have to change the whole office.
So that such kind does not happen again,
(Just the saying that there are a lot of police operations in the OMZ).
So the OMZ has had fewer police operations than the SKM in the Vorgebirgsstr 3 years ago, the Winterhilfe had,
In addition still comes,
the SKM
had
Social workers, rescue workers, tons of therapists, kitchen help, cleaning help, and many security’s.
Countermove to the
OMZ
We did not have a social worker from the beginning, let alone security.
We built ourselves as best we could. Never got a warehouse, let alone a workshop,
We were constantly
From the real estate office, building authority, office for order, green space office and now also still from the security service, like in the prison, under constant observation were placed,
Furthermore, the city talks had failed for 1.5 years
In addition, there was no real house right.
The house right which we had was not recognized by the police, they pleaded on the land register.
The Gummersbacher Straße was an interim solution from the mayor and the Ludwig.
It was promised, a promptly for us suitable
(that is, according to the concept) suitable project to provide
And in the meantime one was looked for something, it would mean also if not, s suitable one was found that one can buy also a building,
Also an extraplenums room was denied
I remember myself that I have rescued 2 people who were affected by sexism, at the train station, and with many female read people have added, who have given me support, there is also a protocol, what me with the cooperation of the skf in their facilities, have mediated, social work I was not responsible for.
Likewise many promises were made which were never kept,
I must nevertheless ask very much,
I had said it 3.5 years ago and still stand in the concept what I have in mind to want to do it, but the city does not meet us with it,
I still think it’s a pity.
Although it is an interim solution, that everything is now simply cleared aside.
And I am deeply outraged that they have now thrown everyone else out on the street, an absolute no go.
Not everyone is perfect,
But there you should not still go and kick the not perfect people in the ass,
Your favorite saying:
Every jeck is different
We should perhaps times consider,
How do we do it better
How will Cologne as a pioneer to avoid homeless people
How can we set an alternative development model to help homeless by natural means,
There are many ways,
But will help little for all,
There are possibilities,
A small: TIP
Hire volunteers.
And make a survey to all citizens
Main topic :
How can we help homeless people out of homelessness.
What would you (the citizens) do.
TRY IT AND SEND NOTES TO ALL CITIZENS
YOU CAN DROP THEM IN THE CITIZENS’ OFFICE
OR GIVE THEM TO THE VOLUNTEERS
I AM VERY SURE
There are many possibilities and a good common Cologne.
Mfg Andre Salentin
Marc Kersten on the last day of the OMZ in Gummersbacher Straße
Today, more than 20 residents of the OMZ left with packed suitcases for an uncertain future. Under the threat of eviction and criminal consequences, the people peacefully vacated the house. This may please the Cologne administration, but it does not please me!
That is why I demonstrated today with many other supporters for a seamless follow-up solution. For the people affected to move immediately into one of the 15 rooms decided last week by the social committee as an interim solution. The fact that this is not happening is due to a lack of communication, the short-term nature of the process, the non-transparent and complicated procedure and, to be honest, a lack of availability, if it were put to the test.
So as of tonight, some of the previous residents of Gummersbacher Straße will end up on the street. And I would like to vigorously contradict everyone inside and outside the administration when it is claimed that this would be safer for those affected than continuing to live in the OMZ.
Now, unpalatable facts have been created and the opportunity for dialogue has not been seized. A project that is unique in Germany is threatening to vanish into thin air, with its residents now scattered to the four winds.
Will anyone still care about them? Or will they now disappear as anonymous cases in the thicket of Cologne’s homelessness? Will the media continue to report or will the case be shelved? What will become of the many peaceful residents who have now been taken into clan custody? And what will become of the few violent offenders who also need help?
The solidarity today has done good, my gratitude goes to the signatories of the solidarity appeal.
I remain convinced that the homeless need a future. And as of today, also a new home!
Press comments on the eviction of the OMZ
Report-K: OMZ – what’s next – eviction without interim?
https://www.report-k.de/omz-wie-geht-es-weiter/
Express: Everyone must get out
Cologne shelter for the homeless is evicted – protest is forming
https://www.express.de/koeln/unterkunft-fuer-obdachlose-omz-in-koeln-muss-geraeumt-werden-581925
Stadt-Anzeiger: “Forced prostitution” in the OMZ
How it goes on for the residents in Cologne now
https://www.ksta.de/koeln/koelner-innenstadt/deutz/koeln-omz-an-der-gummersbacher-strasse-wird-am-mittwoch-aufgeloest-1-581794
Stadt-Anzeiger: The city must show the residents a perspective
https://www.ksta.de/koeln/koelner-innenstadt/deutz/omz-koeln-stadt-muss-bewohnern-eine-perspektive-aufzeigen-582728
Rundschau: Why the project “Homeless with a Future” in Cologne fails for the time being
https://www.rundschau-online.de/koeln/kalk/kalk-veedel/koeln-warum-das-projekt-obdachlose-mit-zukunft-vorerst-scheitert-582605
Kölnische Rundschau: Struggle for new structure
“Homeless with a future” are to move into a house in Merheim
https://www.rundschau-online.de/koeln/kalk/merheim/obdachlose-mit-zukunft-sollen-in-haus-in-merheim-ziehen-580833
WDR: Too much crime: City evicts Cologne homeless project OMZ
https://www1.wdr.de/nachrichten/rheinland/raeumung-obdachlosenprojekt-koeln-100.html
WDR Local Time Cologne:
https://www1.wdr.de/lokalzeit/fernsehen/koeln/video-projekt-gescheitert-omz-bewohnerinnen-muessen-ausziehen-100.html
On the history of housing construction in the Federal Republic
1945
The housing management decreed by the National Socialists in 1936 was continued by the
continued by the victorious powers. Homeowners could not freely dispose of their
dispose of their apartments. Rents were frozen at the 1936 level, and terminations were largely excluded.
were largely excluded. The housing offices determined the occupancy
The housing offices determined the occupancy of the apartments and ensured that bombed-out persons and refugees were accommodated.
They were housed without the actual tenants or landlords being able to do anything about it.
could do anything about it. It was not until after the founding of the Federal Republic in 1949 that large-scale
began on a grand scale, as Konrad Adenauer had already announced during the election campaign.
election campaign:
1956
After lengthy debates, the Second Housing Act was passed in the Bundestag.
Bundestag, which placed an emphasis on promoting home ownership.
A sociopolitical instrument in the Cold War: Those who own their own home are
less susceptible to socialist ideologies, Adenauer’s cabinet calculated.
1960
The “Lückeplan” marked the end of the housing policy consensus in
West Germany. Despite fierce criticism from the opposition, tenants’ associations and
unions, the “Law on the Dismantling of the Compulsory Housing Industry
and on social tenancy and housing rights” was passed in the Bundestag in May 1960.
passed. It came into force on June 23, 1960.
1973
Under the social-liberal coalition, housing construction reached new record levels.
In 1973, 714,000 housing units were completed; by way of comparison, the current figure is
200,000 a year. And these 7140,000 apartments were the first in the history of the
in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany, these 7140,000 apartments were not fully rented. A
shock for the housing industry, which prompted a rethink.
1982
After the change of government in Bonn, Helmut Kohl announced a turnaround in housing policy in 1982.
housing policy. Social housing construction was scaled back, as was protection against
protection against dismissal for tenants – measures to reintroduce more of a market.
End of the 1990s
Since the end of the 1990s, the state has been increasingly withdrawing from the housing market
and state-subsidized social housing construction. After the
federalism reform in 2006, responsibility for social housing and housing promotion in general
for social housing and housing promotion in general, both financially and legislatively.
in both financial and legislative terms.
In recent years, many municipalities have sold parts of their housing stock to private investors, and the city of Dresden has even sold its entire stock. This is a risky strategy that may help to balance budgets in the short term, but robs municipalities of important room for maneuver.
https://assets.deutschlandfunk.de/FILE_609061d15cda13794adc621e380590ed/original.pdf
Exploitation of a tenant nation
How the current situation on the German housing market was created.
https://www.nd-aktuell.de/artikel/1120894.wohnungsmarkt-verwertung-einer-mieternation.html
To Philipp Metzger: How the housing market in Germany was created to suit the stock market
https://www.bmgev.de/mieterecho/mieterecho-online/philipp-metzger/
In the feature film “The Big Short”, which is based on real events and people, it is reconstructed very vividly how the financial crisis of 2007 came about.
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Short_(film)
Social Housing in the Context of German Housing Policy since 1918: Factors Influencing New Construction of Social Housing
https://www.ssoar.info/ssoar/bitstream/handle/document/67924/ssoar-2020-ringwald-Sozialer_Wohnungsbau_im_Kontext_deutscher.pdf
Klaus Ronneberger: Fordist Housing: Ideology and Materiality
http://old.links-netz.de/pdf/T_ronneberger_wohnen.pdf
According to a new study, 11,000 homeless people live in NRW. More than previously thought live on the streets. In addition, there are thousands who find shelter with friends or acquaintances.
https://www1.wdr.de/nachrichten/landespolitik/studie-obdachlose-nrw100.html
Broadcasts, reports, news
Overcoming Homelessness – Include Homeless People in the Steering Committee for the National Action Plan against Homelessness!
https://www.wohnungslosenstiftung.org/neuigkeiten/2023-06-02-wohnungslosigkeit-ueberwinden-wohnungslose-menschen-beteiligen.html
Podcast “Schöner Wohnen”: Many questions about the housing issue
In a new podcast, two left-wing politicians provide information on urban and housing policy issues. Well researched, sometimes a bit abstract.
https://taz.de/Podcast-Schoener-Wohnen/!5934660/
Housing and public funding
http://publications.rwth-aachen.de/record/230959/files/7_pt_materialien_29.pdf
Housing policy ideas. This is how the Netherlands wants to alleviate the housing shortage
There is a shortage of affordable housing in the Netherlands. The government and cities want to counteract the housing shortage – for example, by converting vacant buildings and protecting zones against speculators.
https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/wohnungsnot-niederlande-massnahmen-mieter-schutz-leerstand-100.html
Dates
03.06. 2023, 2 p.m., No compromise with Fortress Europe, Ruolfplatz
https://keinekompromisse.noblogs.org/
04.06.2023, 12 o’clock, award of the 5th alternative honorary citizenship to Linda Rennings and Gerhard Baum, Gürzenich
06/13/2023, 7:30 pm, Thomas Galli: How much prison does the country need? Karl Rahner Academy
15.06.2023, 2 p.m. Council
06/18/2023, 2:30 p.m., Edelweiss Pirate Festival, Peace Park
06/26/2023, 7:30pm, 125 years of non-profit housing in Cologne on the right bank of the Rhine.
Dom Forum. https://denkmaldienste.de/rvdlkoeln/2023/05/22/wohnungsbau-rrhkoeln/
28.06.2023, 18:30 Uhr, Challenge: Finding housing in Cologne. Refugee Center Fliehkraft, Turmstr.3-5, Cologne-Nippes.
17.08.2023, 15:30 Social Committee.
For a city without homelessness
For a city without forced evictions
For a city without drug deaths
For a city without violence against women and children
For a city without deportations
For a city without poverty
June 3, 2023
Klaus Jünschke and Rainer Kippe
https://wohnungsnot.koeln
PS
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Translated with DeepL
