Undergoing reconstruction: Women and Children's Shelter in Ravensburg
Baden-Württemberg Investing €7 Million in Three New Women and Children's Safe Houses
In an effort to address the growing need for women's shelters and prevent the loss of existing safe spaces, the state of Baden-Württemberg is investing €7 million in the construction of three new women and children's safe houses [1][2]. One of these new shelters will be located in Ravensburg, which will have 13 spots for women and children in need of protection, along with an emergency room [4]. The Ravensburg project will receive a €2.4 million subsidy, accounting for approximately 70% of the construction costs [3].
The new constructions are part of a larger programme aimed at providing additional protection capacities and implementing the Law on Assistance to Victims of Violence, which will grant a legal claim to protection and counseling for women and children affected by violence from 2032 onwards [2]. The other two safe houses are planned for the districts of Esslingen and Ludwigsburg, with a total capacity of up to 43 women and children [1][2].
Despite these investments, the financial basis of women's shelters in Baden-Württemberg remains inadequate. Many shelters are primarily funded through daily rates of around €74 per person, which does not cover costs and poses particular challenges for women in special circumstances [5].
The current women and children's safe house in Ravensburg is the only one in the district, according to the operator association "Women and Children in Need e.V." [6]. Due to the lack of spots in women's shelters, many women and children in Baden-Württemberg share a single room [7]. The total cost for the new women and children's safe house in Ravensburg is €3.2 million.
The Paritätischer Welfare Association demands that the state government submit a concrete plan by the end of the year to implement the Law on Assistance to Victims of Violence [8]. The association also appreciates the state government's investment but asserts that the demand for women's shelters is not being fully met [9]. Many of the 44 women's shelters in Baden-Württemberg are outdated [10].
The new women and children's safe house in Ravensburg is scheduled for completion in 2027. The living standards in many women's shelters in Baden-Württemberg no longer meet today's requirements, according to the welfare association [11]. One of these safe houses is planned in Ravensburg, while the other two are planned for the districts of Esslingen and Ludwigsburg.
References:
[1] Baden-Württemberg investiert in drei Frauen- und Kinderschutzhäuser
[2] Baden-Württemberg baut drei Frauen- und Kinderschutzhäuser
[3] Sozialministerium Baden-Württemberg
[4] Neues Frauen- und Kinderschutzhaus in Ravensburg
[5] Frauenhäuser in Baden-Württemberg finanziell unzureichend
[6] Frauenhaus Ravensburg
[7] Zu wenige Schutzplätze in Frauenhäusern in Baden-Württemberg
[8] Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband Baden-Württemberg
[9] Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband Baden-Württemberg
[10] Frauenhäuser in Baden-Württemberg finanziell unzureichend
[11] Frauenhäuser in Baden-Württemberg finanziell unzureichend
The state of Baden-Württemberg's €7 million investment in three new women and children's safe houses signals a commitment to enhancing health-and-wellness, specifically focusing on womens-health and protection. The construction of these safe houses aligns with efforts to implement the Law on Assistance to Victims of Violence, aiming to provide additional resources for women and children within the realm of science and social welfare.
