One thing is certain: there are generally too few places in women’s shelters for women who experience violence. The two options in Würzburg are actually always full. According to a needs assessment by the Ministry for Family, Labor and Social Affairs, between 90,000 and 140,000 women across Bavaria are affected by domestic violence. How many women there actually are is difficult to determine. The number of unreported cases is too large.
In the Würzburg women’s shelter, which is run by the Social Service of Catholic Women (SKF), there are currently six places for women and six for children. “Three quarters of the women could not be admitted,” said women’s shelter Franziska Boes on Monday in the district council of the Würzburg district. Since February this year, ten women and ten children have been able to find shelter in the second women’s refuge, which is run by the Arbeiterwohlfahrt. Still too few, because the Bavarian Ministry of Social Affairs sees a need for 19.44 places for the region – this includes the city and the district of Würzburg, as well as Main-Spessart and Kitzingen.
Does a visible women’s refuge offer those affected sufficient protection and security?
In Randersacker, the district council dealt intensively on Monday with the question of whether another visible women’s shelter in the Würzburg district is possible and politically wanted. In Giebelstadt, on the no longer used area of the district building yard, such an opportunity could arise for women in need. However, as a visible women’s shelter, which, unlike the two houses in Würzburg, is known locally as such. Does that mean that the protective and security functions that those affected are looking for in a women’s shelter still exist?
“Violence against women does not necessarily have to be hidden.”
Franziska Boes, director of the SKF women’s shelter in Würzburg–
Franzsika Boes thinks yes, because the objective safety of the residents and their children will be ensured. Women without high risk could find good accommodation here, says Boes, and sees the advantage that women and children no longer have to hide and older sons can also be accommodated in the apartments. Friendships could last, visits would be possible and the women would have a registration address that they would need to open a bank account.
“Violence against women does not necessarily have to be hidden,” said the director of the women’s shelter. District Administrator Thomas Eberth sees another advantage: “Perhaps we can give women such an opportunity to find their way out of their ordeal.”
Police see a visible women’s shelter in Giebelstadt rather skeptically
Concerned about the safety of women is Johannes Streib, deputy head of the fight against crime at the police headquarters in Lower Franconia. For him, a visible women’s shelter would contradict an anonymous women’s shelter, because “protection lives through anonymity.” For a police assessment, it depends on where the women’s refuge is and who is doing the individual risk assessment.
Employees of the future sponsor, the SKF is under discussion, would like to assess the risk posed to women using a standardized procedure. Those at high risk would not be accepted into the possible women’s shelter in Giebelstadt. But if this assessment is wrong, “it could get tight,” said Streib. This is different, for example, with a similar model in Lübeck. Over 80 percent of the residents there are not from the region and there are three police stations in the immediate vicinity. “A patrol can regularly pass by there, in Giebelstadt that is rather difficult.”
Giebelstadt community does not “tear” itself around the women’s shelter, but wants to support it
Giebelstadt’s mayor Helmut Krämer openly admits that the community “will certainly not be raging over the women’s shelter”. Also because it is an additional burden for kindergarten and school and no one can foresee how the pilot project will develop. And also because the Ochsenfurt police station has major concerns. But, “provided that it is a common task”, the local council is open to it.
And what do the politicians say? Volkmar Halbib (SPD) sees a “significant shortage of women’s shelter” and believes that they can go the way of a visible women’s shelter. However, the network in region two and thus joint financing must be maintained and “it is important that the Free State of Bavaria contributes to the operating costs”. The new building is funded with 90 percent federal funds.
Large majority in favor of a visible women’s refuge
The faction of Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen “is fully behind the project,” said Karen Heussner. It is also important to her colleagues that the consensus between the payers does not waver. However, if the city of Würzburg and the Main-Spessart and Kitzingen districts do not want to participate, “then the district should continue the concept alone,” she said. Hans Fiederling, parliamentary group leader of the UWG / FW sees it similarly. “If we conduct the discussion openly, it can also help many women.”
The CSU parliamentary group was not quite as united. Björn Jungbauer, described his concerns as a former police officer. “A visible women’s shelter in Giebelstadt is a good concept, but according to the police, is it the right location?” But he also admitted that the majority of his group was in favor. He would much rather create living space for the women so that they don’t have to stay in the women’s shelters for so long. “Housing projects would make more sense than a visible women’s shelter,” agreed Matthias Henneberger (ÖDP).
With seven dissenting votes, the 57 district councilors present voted in favor of building a new women’s shelter in Giebelstadt, but on the condition that the construction and operating costs are funded and that all cost bearers in the region contribute two. And what is the trend among the cost bearers? “They would rather not go with an anonymous women’s refuge. The experts in the offices are more in favor of the new concept, the discussion in the committees is still open,” said District Administrator Eberth, assessing the situation.
Help with violence against women: The women’s shelter of the AWO offers telephone consultation hours, Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the phone number (0931) 61 98 10. The women’s shelter in the SkF eV Würzburg can be reached Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Fridays until 2 pm on (0931) 45 007 77. The emergency telephone “Violence against women” can be reached at all times on (0800) 011 60 16.
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