Life in the women's shelter
In total, the women's shelter has 20 seats (and 4 notices) spread over two apartments. Each apartment has 5 rooms, a communal kitchen and sanitary facilities. On the ground floor of the house are our offices, a common lounge, the open playroom and a work and craft room. In the basement there is a laundry room, which can be used by all residents. The house is surrounded by a garden and is conveniently located in the Marburg urban area.
Every woman lives alone or with her children in a room. The rooms are equipped with bed linen and towels. The women in the women's home organize their everyday lives independently: shopping, cooking, washing, and caring for the children - all the tasks are carried out by the women themselves. In addition, certain tasks for the household are taken over by the women in turn.
For the time in the women's shelter every resident receives a permanent employee as contact person. We offer women advice and support in all matters related to the new life situation. We have accompanying talks about the experiences of violence, the psychological situation after separation, about the present and future life style and about possible conflict situations in the women's shelter. Every 14 days there is a house meeting in which the coexistence with all women is discussed and organized together.
The combination of different lifestyles and cultures in the shelter requires a high degree of tolerance and sense of community from the residents. Many women find it enriching to meet other women who are also affected by domestic violence. For some, the women's shelter is the first place where they can openly name and discuss their experiences. Not infrequently, friendships develop here, which also go beyond their stay in the women's shelter.
