Mayor Katja Dörner, together with Carolin Krause, Head of the Department of Social Affairs, and Albert Sahle, Managing Director of Sahle Wohnen GmbH & Co. KG, visited the future accommodation on Thursday, May 12, 2022. The company Sahle Wohnen, owner of the former Chamber of Agriculture at Siebengebirgsstraße 200 since 2017, is making the office building available to the city rent-free for one and a half years.
In the first step, space for up to 200 people
Due to its good condition and generous open spaces, the building is very well suited for accommodation. In the first stage, up to 200 people will find space in the new accommodation. Occupancy can be increased to up to 400 places in the coming weeks.
"The people, who need to find peace and quiet after their war experiences and the stresses and strains of their flight, will be in very good hands here," says Mayor Katja Dörner. "Together with the German Red Cross and numerous volunteers, we will ensure that this happens. My thanks go to them, as well as to Sahle Wohnen for making the building available and to the specialist departments of the city administration for preparing the accommodation," emphasizes the Lord Mayor.
Sahle Wohnen has given the former Chamber of Agriculture to the City of Bonn for use for one and a half years in return for payment of a symbolic rent and assumption of running costs. "Since the building of the Chamber of Agriculture offers the best conditions in terms of its infrastructure and is still predominantly vacant, it is a matter of course for us as a housing industry partner of the city of Bonn to offer it the building rent-free for the accommodation of war refugees. Rent-free because it is incompatible with the character of our company and the self-image of our family to capitalize on the need of other people," says Albert Sahle.
Municipality prepared accommodation
The Municipal Building Management and the Office for Social Affairs and Housing were responsible for the furnishing. While the SGB took care of the necessary technical requirements, such as water and electricity connections, the Social Welfare Office was responsible for furnishing the rooms, among other things.
The residents have the opportunity to cook in the furnished communal kitchens and to do their laundry in communal laundry rooms. Each household is provided with a refrigerator. The rooms themselves are equipped with beds, wardrobes, tables and chairs.
Cooperation with DRK
The city administration has commissioned the Bonn District Association of the German Red Cross, which already operates the initial reception center in Buschdorf, to look after the people accommodated in the former Chamber of Agriculture. "As in 2015/2016, we are working together with the DRK in a very trusting manner in the accommodation and care of the refugees," says Bonn's head of social affairs, Carolin Krause.
Volunteer initiative
A volunteer initiative has already been formed in the surrounding districts of Bonn. It will support the city and DRK in taking care of the arriving people. In addition to handing out donations in kind, this offer is aimed primarily at children and young people. The large premises make it possible, for example, to prepare play areas. Rooms in the building are also available for care services.
Current figures
In the meantime, from February 24, 2022 to May 11, 2022 inclusive, a total of 3,732 refugees from Ukraine have registered in Bonn at the Service Center of Citizens' Services. As of May 12, 2022, the city administration has accommodated a total of 2168 refugees from Ukraine: 270 in municipal accommodation, 153 in apartments, 1163 in hotels, and 582 persons were placed in private accommodation.
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