Life in the women’s shelter

Each of our women’s shelters is structured differently. In every shelter, women have their own room with their children. Each room includes:

• A refrigerator for personal food items
• Beds and wardrobes
• A table with chairs

Most rooms also have their own bathroom and some have a small private kitchen. In most cases, you will share the kitchen with other residents.

To ensure that sharing works well, there are rules in the women’s shelter. For example:

• Cleaning duties for shared spaces
• Quiet hour regulations

In addition to your own room, there are various other spaces in the women’s shelter. These include, for example:

• Rumpus room for children: This is a play and sports room.
• Outdoor area: for example, a garden
• Common room for teenagers with various games: for example, a foosball table
• Playroom for children
• Library
• Common room for women
• Donation storage: This is where clothes and other donated items are kept. Women can take clothing and everyday items from here.
• Food storage room: Here, all women receive free food once a week and as needed.

Some of our houses have wheelchair-accessible residential units. This means that women and children using a wheelchair (including electric wheelchairs) can live here.

In each house, there is a floor dedicated to office space. This is where our social workers work.

There is:

• A duty office: This is open during the day for all urgent concerns women may have.
• A night duty room: This is where the social worker on night shift is located.
• A children’s office: This is open during the day.
• Counseling rooms: This is where regular counseling appointments for women and children take place.
• Management office: This is where the managers of the women’s shelter work.

Childcare

Childcare can also be organized in every women’s shelter. This service is available by arrangement. Childcare can be used, for example, when attending a counseling appointment. Dedicated staff members look after the children while mothers attend important appointments.

Pets may be brought to the women’s shelter by prior arrangement. Women receive all important information regarding this during their admission to the shelter.

The women’s shelter is a house full of life. Many women and children who have shared similar life experiences live together here. This creates solidarity and community.

Each house also holds regular house meetings. Here, individual concerns, potential conflicts, and joint activities can be discussed. Sometimes there are also group activities, such as dancing or excursions.