Vechta women's shelter expanded: Together against domestic violence!

Vechta women's shelter expanded: Together against domestic violence!

An important project is being initiated in Vechta: The Catholic Women's Social Service (SkF) is planning the comprehensive renovation and expansion of its women's and children's shelter. There are currently five rooms available, but demand is high and plans are to increase to eight rooms in the near future to accommodate the increasing number of women and children affected by domestic violence. However, the conversion will not be possible without financial support; A significant portion of the construction costs must be raised through donations. The rest is borne by the state of Lower Saxony and the club itself. The construction time is estimated to be more than a year, which lengthens the entire process, but the necessity of this measure is beyond question.

In Lower Saxony, women's shelters are of central importance for many of those affected. They not only offer a safe haven, but also advice and support for women and their children who live in violent situations. More than half of the registered acts of domestic violence involve simple or dangerous physical injuries, as the specialist office against violence reports. Accordingly, the numbers show a worrying trend: over 265,000 people will suffer from domestic violence in 2024, with women affected in around 73 percent of the cases. It is clear that the available places in the shelters are often not enough to adequately care for those in need.

Domestic violence on the rise

Orange Day, an international day of action to combat violence against women, regularly draws attention to this urgent problem. Compared to previous years, the number of documented cases of domestic violence has continued to increase. The violence often comes from partners or ex-partners, which makes the situation particularly tragic for many women. The Vechta district council also approved the establishment of the women's and children's shelter seven years ago, which has now become an important contact point for women in need.

The upcoming renovations will also take into account the accommodation of women with several children and people with reduced mobility. This is particularly important because the state of Lower Saxony stipulates that women's shelters must provide at least eight places in order to meet the needs of those affected. The conversion in Vechta not only meets the legal requirements, but also the increased demands for contemporary protection and support for those affected.

Support from the state

The state of Lower Saxony supports the work of women's shelters by supporting the advice, accommodation and care of affected women and children. To date, a total of 45 women's shelters in the country have been supported. The corresponding funds for the implementation of these measures come from the state budget, with the approval authority being the Lower Saxony State Office for Social Affairs, Youth and Family. In 2024, the judiciary in Lower Saxony distributed almost 6 million euros to various initiatives, with the Victim Support Foundation receiving the largest donation.

The challenges in the area of ​​domestic violence are great, and the numbers speak for themselves. Experts point out that the actual numbers may be even higher because many incidents go unreported. The expanded women's shelter in Vechta is a step in the right direction to better help those in need and to offer them a safe refuge.

We are all called upon to support this important process, be it through donations or by raising awareness of the issue. Women's shelters are often the last hope for many of those affected and perform indispensable work in our society.