2. Best practices of inclusiveness, migration and refugee housing

3. Involving Volunteers - Neighbourhood Agencies
International Social Housing Festival -
Best practices of inclusiveness, migration and refugee housing
Amsterdam
June 14th 2017

4. DOGEWO21 -
We offer good quality flats at affordable prices in Dortmund, Germany
Our stock units
Empty flats (market related) units
In modernisation units
Total units
Rents Ø 5.20 €/sqm/month

5. DOGEWO21 - Investments
Every year we invest great sums in modernisation and maintenance
Investment in 2016 ca. 34 Mio. € (31.92 € per sqm)

6. DOGEWO21 - Developping Quarters
Offer of flats according to demand
A place to live for all ages
Infrastructure for all ages
Neighbourhood networks
Support and advice in our quarters
Services according to needs

7. Neighbourhood Agencies
In 2013 DOGEWO21 started up neighbourhood agencies in different quarters of Dortmund
The concept was developped in cooperation with Diakonisches Werk (charity organisation)
DOGEWO21 provides location and covers the financial expenses
Main idea: Create a place for neighbourhood activities mainly based on volunteers

8. Neighbourhood Agencies
The first neighbourhood agency was opened in December 2013.
We provided the rooms of a former pizzeria in the middle of a small shopping center

9. Neighbourhood Agencies
Organisation:
Social workers from Diakonisches Werk (one person full time, supported by part-time staff)
Main aim from the very beginning:
Encourage tenants and support them to start and run activities on their own
Key points:
The neighbourhood agency is open to everybody
Strong support of social workers in the beginning
Find and involve volunteers

10. Neighbourhood Agencies
After a few months:
Tenants meeting (about 800 DOGEWO21-flats in the quarter)
Election of an advisory board of tenants (7 members)

11. Neighbourhood Agencies
Advisory board:
Members meet with staff regularly
Each member covers a special subject such as culture, sports, church, social charity etc. The advisory board is responsible for a (small) budget
Volunteers:
Propose and run activities
Support by social worker and advisory board
Social worker:
Main task is supporting, organising, distributing the monthly programme etc. Works mainly (and more and more) in the background

12. Neighbourhood Agencies
Results:
Only one social worker (half-time) needed
Monthly programme covers events on numerous subjects, i.e.
language courses, sports, discussions, painting courses, cooking together, kids‘ events etc.
The programme for May 2017 shows 65 events!
About two thirds of the events are organised and run by volunteers.
Neighbourhood relations have become better
Especially seniors state the agency has improved their quality of life

13. Neighbourhood Agencies

14. Volunteering in Neighbourhood Agencies – Role Model for working with refugees?
DOGEWO21 is not responsible for giving first or temporary accomodation. Flats are rented out only in case of a residentual status (Minimum 6 months)
DOGEWO21 has given accomodation to many refugees during the last two years - due to our extremely low rate of empty flats there is no concentration of refugees in certain quarters - we integrate into existing neighbourhoods
We support voluntary work with refugees whereever possible – but there is no special programme provided by our company.
Neighbourhood agencies are of course open to refugees as well.

15. Thank you for your attention
Regine Stoerring
+49 (231)