In the past few years, Bavaria has made an exemplary contribution to promoting workshops for the disabled. State funds went into the renovation and construction of workshops as well as the construction of apartments for those who work in such workshops. But this is over, as the Lower Bavaria district is now warning: The Free State is “gradually withdrawing from the grants”. The owners of the facilities are now struggling with the consequences. Inspectors from the district offices are immediately putting pressure on finally adapting the living spaces made available for the workshop employees to meet the requirements of today’s standards. “There is a huge need for investment, and some of the workshops are 40 to 50 years old,” said Caritas Augsburg when asked. But nothing can move forward without funding. “That slows us down,” emphasized a spokesman.
Jürgen Auer, the state manager of Lebenshilfe in Bavaria, is also concerned. The operates more than 170 workshop locations in the Free State. Around 18,300 people with disabilities find employment and care there at the same time. “Everything is very uncertain at the moment,” says Auer. The fact is: workshops for people with disabilities can no longer submit new applications for investment cost funding since the suspension of funding by the Free State, i.e. since November 2020. In other words: You can neither tackle urgently needed modernizations nor new buildings.
Social Affairs Minister Carolina Trautner (CSU) knows about this precarious situation, as Barbara Stamm (CSU) has already visited her house on this matter. She was President of the Landtag for many years and also Bavarian Minister of Social Affairs from 1994 to 2001. Stamm – she was recently confirmed in office as the state chairwoman of Lebenshilfe in Bavaria – speaks plain language. “If we don’t get any remedies, then I don’t know how to proceed,” she said on Wednesday. Trautner wants to help, but has already made it clear in discussions with other associations that this depends on the respective budget situation. She likes to refer to the state support of the districts responsible for integration assistance – combined with the reference to the money from the Bavarian state plan for people with disabilities. Whether the funds will be increased accordingly is in the stars. Stamm emphasizes: “We need a very substantial increase in the state disability plan.” However, it is also conceivable that funds from social housing will be used in the future. “Or we get – if nothing works – a special program,” said Stamm. And finally, a clear word: “If we get everything rejected, we will not accept it!”
Should the Free State generally withdraw from funding, then the districts would have to assume the higher investment costs. “But that would have to be negotiated first, which of course would continue to delay important investments,” fears Lebenshilfe managing director Auer. The districts that are facing the burden are also getting nervous. The latest press release from Lower Bavaria is just a hint.