Equal Opportunities for Older Women
About the initiative Content and framework conditions Organisational background Back
Wohnprojekt Eichstraße (Eichstraße Residential Project)
Communicational details
Address:
Alt & Jung in Hannover e.V.
Eichstraße 35
30161 Hannover
Germany
Contact persons and their known foreign languages:
Marie-Luise Krondorf, Resident
Ursela Groeger, Resident
Telephone: 0049-511-312015
Telefax: 0049-511-312015
E-Mail:
Internet:
About the initiative
Status of the initiative: The initiative is a self-help initiative aimed at improving equal opportunities for older women through an organisation that pursues objectives which are independent of gender or age.
The initiative is independent and has the following legal form: Gesellschaft bürgerlichen Rechts (private company)
The initiative has the dicisive support of the following organisation:
Alt & Jung in Hannover e.V.
Address:
Eichstraße 35
30161 Hannover
Germany
Telephone: 0049-511-312015
Telefax: 0049-511-312015
E-Mail:
Internet:
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Content and framework conditions of the project work
The initiative was founded in: 1984
The initiative was founded because of the following reasons:

Our aim is to examine and improve the living conditions of elderly people.
Target group(s): Six women between the ages of 52 and 75 live together in the Eichstraße residential project. Actually, the residential project was not intended to be only for women, but no men could be found who were prepared to take the risk of living in a community like this one.
Targets: We aim to live our old age as self-determining and socially bonded individuals.
Details of the work done by the initiative:

The three-story house in the Eichstraße lies in the centre of Hannover and is a former guesthouse. In 1996, after the city housing department had renovated the building, the six women moved in as tenants. The building also houses the office of the Aktionsgemeinschaft Alt & Jung in Hannover e.V. (Action Committee Old & Young in Hanover, a Registered Charity). Each tenant has her own flat and there is a communal kitchen. One evening a week there is a jour fixe which the two working women are also free to attend.
Each woman is responsible for her own cooking, laundry, and shopping - yet they all help each other when the need arises. Should a tenant be so infirm that she can no longer climb the stairs, the tenants plan to consult together as to whether she might change flats with one of the others. They cannot afford nursing for the aged, but in this case too they plan to consult together as to what can be done, should the need for nursing arise.
Areas of work of the initiative:
Social contacts
Living circumstances
Success that the initiative has achieved:

Our success may be measured by how contented our residents are, by the positive interest shown by the media, and by the number of telephone enquiries we receive after information events.
Problems that the initiative has been faced during its work:

Problems can arise when residents become infirm, since the house is not built to meet the needs of the aged.
Participation of the target group concerning the conception, planning and implementation of the initiative's work:

We administer the project together and make decisions in common.
Co-operation:

Since 1992 we have been co-operating with the Forum für gemeinschaftliches Wohnen im Alter e.V. (Forum for Communal Living in Old Age, a Registered Charity), with respect to the transfer of information, seminar work, and networking.
Information:

We are available for people interested in receiving more information on our initiative by phone, post or e-mail.
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Organisational background of the initiative
Staff:
Budget:
Sources of funding:
Members dues
Publications or information material available on our initiative:

We have published an information paper: "Wahlverwandtschaften: Wohnprojekt Eichstraße in Hannover" (Elective Affinities: The Eichstraße Residential Project in Hanover), obtainable from Alt & Jung in Hannover e.V. (Old and Young in Hanover, a Registered Charity).
Recommended literature:
Tips and suggestions for people interested in foundig a similar initiative:

We recommend obtaining membership of the Bundesforum für gemeinschaftliches Wohnen (National Forum for Communal Living).
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2001-04-25