Jutta Speidel on violence in families – Munich

Jutta Speidel can not only play one role after the other, but several at the same time. Social worker and grandma, for example. On Thursday morning, however, this is only possible with a little pain for the grandson, who pinches his finger when getting into the car, because he is driving with his grandmother to the Horizon office, where the 69-year-old actress is about the next anniversary and the third major construction project will take care of. Horizont, the association Speidel founded to house and support homeless mothers and their children, is a success story. On the way to work there is time for a chat, which at least seems interesting enough for a six-year-old to listen spellbound.

SZ: Ms. Speidel, the second Horizon House has been around for five years, Horizon for more than 25 years. What has changed since the beginning?

Jutta Speidel: The first house in 2004 was and is a shelter for women and children. In Domagkpark we have had a mixed community of cooperative housing, schools and kindergartens for five years now. Horizon is part of it with, among other things, the cultural stage Spagat and the restaurant we run or workshops where children and young people can work. And there are a lot of events.

The first house is one that protects its residents, this second project with its 48 apartments seems like an attempt to connect people as best as possible.

Absolutely. We want to reintegrate women into urban society. We not only have women with us who have experienced violence, but also women with other family problems who later moved back in with their husbands.

And that works in the Domagkpark?

Yes. But we still have the problem that in families where both parents work, we see a lot of neglect among the children. Domagkpark is not an easy park. There are also a few small gangs where you have to be careful that they don’t grow bigger.

Do you also have these problems with the women from your house?

No, because they learned so much from us. But here we are also confronted with families who have not learned such a structure.

What structure?

In our houses you learn respect, education, togetherness, simply everything. Anyone who moves into our shelter knows that something is being demanded. Without a request, one cannot expect that these people will allow themselves to be promoted. But it only works with encouragement and demands. Our concept means that the women can be reintegrated into society and that the women can get out of their emergency situation and stand on their own two feet.

The residential complex in Domagkpark.

(Photo: Catherine Hess)

Now you are planning a third house. What’s the status there?

We inherited a property in the west of Munich, but of course we won’t say the exact location to protect the future residents. And it is being built on, which will cost an amount in the double-digit millions.

They are supported by many, by the city or by ZF Generalbau und Immobiliengesellschaft.

Exactly. We want to move in by 2026 at the latest.

According to the social department, around 9,000 people in Munich are currently homeless, including at least 1,800 children. How can that be in a city as rich as Munich?

The demands of immigration are simply enormous. It always looks as if the city of Munich is a shaken may bug according to the motto: But we didn’t expect that at all. And recently, due to the Ukraine war, the housing shortage in the city has grown even more. And it hits the poorest of the poor. And we know that the willingness to take in a Ukrainian mother and her children is far greater than it would be for a Somali woman.

Is that so?

Well, for some inexplicable reason, some believe that Ukrainians are closer to the western world and our culture than an African or Arab country. In our society, having a black single woman, and we have a lot of them, is still extremely difficult.

Why?

Because it’s less recognized. A lot of people think the same: She’s weak, you can’t help her, she’s stupid and uneducated. There are still incomprehensible stereotypes that make it almost impossible for a woman to gain a foothold.

What role does religion play?

This is largely responsible for the fact that many people cannot deal with living under one roof with other religions and cultures.

But what about you?

Absolutely, the only exclusion criteria for us are prostitution, alcoholism and drug use.

Will your commitment perhaps or hopefully someday no longer be needed in the distant future?

No, the thought is absurd. Unfortunately. As bad as it is, the problem will remain. There is no one who is immune to getting into such an emergency situation. We have had examples from all walks of life and cultures.

“It’s still the case that the man usually signed the contract for the apartment.”

Have the reasons why women experience violence changed?

Oh well. We all know that in our society there is little understanding of tolerating and accepting differences within a relationship and still sticking to a marriage. Quite a lot of people separate at the first big argument. And it is still the case that in most cases the man has signed the contract for the apartment and the woman has no right to stay there. If she leaves, she has to see for herself where she stays. Many women then simply put up with it in the family until at some point verbal or physical violence occurs.

Do you still have time for acting after your big engagement?

Sure, I’ve already filmed this year and am currently playing at the Gärtnerplatztheater.

But they’re not only being cast for positive roles because they’re so socially involved, are they?

No! I was just the bad Berta in an ARD eight-part series, a very nasty woman (The grandson reports from the background: “Grandma, now I want to listen to the radio”). So, you hear it (laughs), unfortunately I have to stop.

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