For some, the women’s shelter is the last refuge. Those who come here no longer see any other way of finding protection. Most are alone, have lost friends, no more relatives, no one to support them. The women have experienced violence, some have been beaten green and blue by their husbands or partners, and have burns. Others have faced more subtle forms of violence that are no less painful and just as damaging. They were insulted, were exposed to downright psychological terror, were dependent on their tormentor, and were alienated from those around them. “The spectrum is pretty broad,” says Anja Blobner, 40. “These experiences are traumatic for children too.”
Women of all ages seek protection in the women’s refuge.
(Photo: women help women / oh)
The social pedagogue is the managing director of the association “Women help women”. In Fürstenfeldbruck he maintains the only women’s shelter in the district. An old house that can accommodate six women with their children if there are not too many children. There is a shared bathroom and kitchen.
The association is currently building a new house in the large district town for the Germering Social Foundation. The foundation made inheritances with the stipulation that a women’s refuge and a hospice be built. The hospice will also be housed in the building on Untere Bahnhofsstraße. According to Blobner, nine women can be accommodated there in small apartments with their own bathroom and kitchenette. There will be a barrier-free room and a fairly large apartment. “We can now also take the families with all the children,” says Blobner happily.
Equipment is still missing for the facility: a large industrial washing machine so that duvets and pillows can be washed in the pandemic, and a dryer. For the security concept, the club itself has to purchase some technical equipment, such as special lamps with motion detectors and an expensive server. “That is absolutely necessary,” explains Blobner. There are also smaller items such as bedside lamps and household items. Toys and employment opportunities for children and young people are also needed. The advent calendar would like to support the association with donations.
Not only will the new house be bigger, it will also follow a new concept. The women should no longer be protected by keeping the address secret, but by a sophisticated concept. “The house is structurally protected in such a way that you are not endangered in it,” says Blobner. Unauthorized persons could not enter it. This also requires expensive technology, including camera surveillance. “We can’t save on security.” The danger is too great that violent men threaten the women in the house otherwise.
The current house is old, but lovingly decorated for Christmas.
(Photo: women help women / oh)
A well-known address has many advantages, explains Blobner. “The women don’t have to hide, they can even have visitors. They can live normally.” That makes it easier to find an independent life. And the children could tell where they live. They are not allowed to do that at the moment, “but of course that is difficult to keep up with.”
Another advantage: The rooms are set up in such a way that they meet the requirements. At the moment, women with disabilities cannot be admitted because there are many stairs in the old house. There is a need for places for older or disabled women. According to Blobner, the spectrum of those seeking protection is very broad. “Women from the age of 18 to over 60 come to us. Some live in a violent relationship for 40 or 45 years before they find the strength to separate.” Sometimes this was caused by retirement or job loss. The fact that women are victims of violence occurs in all classes and economic standards. “There are also wives of university professors who have to go to the women’s refuge. It really affects everyone.”
Many get back on their feet with the help of the association and find new strength. Blobner tells of a woman who had to flee to the women’s shelter. She is now fine again, she supports the association with donations.
The situation of women has often worsened due to the corona pandemic. “Of course that increased the violence in the violent families.” The tension leads to escalation more quickly. “You couldn’t get out of your way in lockdown and you couldn’t do nice things together either.” There was hardly any positive couple time, “says the social worker, adding that arguments were even more frequent.
Many women have children for whom toys are available.
(Photo: women help women / oh)
The women’s shelter is one of three facilities of the association. Since 1984 he has also been running the women’s emergency number, which can be reached 24 hours a day with the help of volunteers for women who have experienced violence. It is also about abuse in childhood and adolescence, about stalking by former friends, colleagues or acquaintances from the sports club. The women are advised on the legal situation, “but there is also a lot of strengthening work involved,” says Blobner. The consultation takes place on the phone, but also in person. The possibility of doing this will be much better in the new building in Germering.
A relatively new offer is the intervention center, to which employers or police officers can also report if they discover that a woman is a victim of violence. “The cooperation with the police in particular is good,” says Blobner. A policewoman reported at Christmas last year who feared an outbreak of violence in a family. Together with the team from the intervention center, a solution was found: the woman and the children moved in with her sister over the holidays. Blobner is pleased that the relationship with the police has improved. “That is very pleasant.” 30 or 40 years ago, people were more likely to work against each other.
The association “Women Help Women” consists of a five-person honorary board member and managing director Blobner. There are also ten employees, social pedagogues, who work part-time. They have various additional training courses, for example in trauma therapy or systemic counseling. “It’s a demanding job,” says Blobner. “It is also not easy to be confronted with violence every day. It is not easy to find new employees. This also applies to the team of volunteers who make many offers possible in the first place.