http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=230x3826Cleita (1000+ posts) Sat Nov-22-08 04:48 PM
Original message
Germany treats their homeless like human beings.
BERLIN'S VAGABOND CHIC
'Most Beautiful Homeless Shelter in the World'
With chandeliers instead of neon lighting and designer furnishings instead of springless sofas, a newly revamped homeless hostel in south Berlin looks more like a hip hotel -- and aims to give some dignity to those worn out by life on the streets.
With its exterior daubed in sunshine yellow and sky blue, the new homeless hostel stands out in its row of pale buildings. And its interior is equally exceptional. As well as glitzy chandeliers, there are wooden floorboards, a gold border encircles the walls and the furniture looks plucked straight from a design catalogue.
But this is no hip new Berlin hotel. It is a revamped homeless hostel named Reichtum 2, or "wealth", the work of Berlin-based artist Miriam Kilali. And wealth is something sorely lacking in the lives of the 21 men who now live in the hostel.
The hostel, which reopened its doors this week, was designed to restore a sense of self-worth in people who have been dealt a raw deal, to show them that they too deserve a decent home. "I wanted to give homeless people, people who had lost everything in their life, respect and dignity back," Kilali told SPIEGEL ONLINE. "I wanted to create a place where they could recover from the stress of life on the street." more at link with photos...
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,5918...
For some reason, the first part of the bonfire blazes in anti-Semitism, the Jews persecuting gypsies 1933-1945.
I have no idea what's up with that.
Absolutely no idea.
bobbolink (1000+ posts) Sat Nov-22-08 10:14 PM
Response to Original message
12. Having come from yet another DU post where the "progressive" poster is soooo afraid of poor and homeless people "getting away with something", and angry that he's worked all his life and here are people getting "something for nothing", it's refreshing to see that there ARE people in the world who still have a heart, and a bit of understanding.
Most important, I wish this woman could convert those who cling to the RW view here in this country!
bobbolink (1000+ posts) Sun Nov-23-08 01:27 PM
Response to Reply #13
17. Yes, we can choose to bring out the best in people, or bring out the worst.
The U.S. tends to treat people in a manner that brings out the worst in each other, then complains about how people behave and their attitudes.
The really sad thing is, until we have the opportunity to put ourselves in a situation where we are treated with respect and compassion, we often don't even have the ability to compare and see how different we feel and how different we act when we are cared about.
I agree with Jean Vanier.... those places of Refuge... places of compassion and respect, are desperately important now, if we are to regain our humanity!
Once again, you've said it very well!
bobbolink (1000+ posts) Mon Nov-24-08 02:18 PM
Response to Reply #20
22. Yes, there are a 'few".... that choice of words is apt.
As Rep. Barney Frank asserts, there are 9 million of us who are in need of low-income housing, and 6 million available units.
A first-grader can do that math.
Thanks for the link... I"ll look at it when I have the opportunity. The problem is that most of these are very paternalistic... they treat "residents" as failed and naughty children.
Then there's a short discussion about stress, after which:
bobbolink (1000+ posts) Mon Nov-24-08 05:05 PM
Response to Reply #20
24. I couldn't find much about their "support services", so I don't know how it is run.
If you have other links, I'd welcome reading more about it.
I know that people are predisposed to like the idea of "counseling"... but having been in that place, I can tell you that what I've seen of it has been that do-gooder, looking-down-the-nose, paternalistic, "You'resopatheticwehavetotellyouwhereyouwentwrongandhowtogetyouracttogether" kinda crap, which only weakens people.
TRUE support LISTENS, rather than talks...and certainly doesn't ORDER.
Again, I'm going by what I've seen... as you saw, another poster has felt the same humiliation, and it is PAINFUL.
What I see from the website is that their focus is on "Green".... rather than on community as such. That's appealing to middle-class people, but doesn't mean anything about how it's run.
I would suggest a book called "Streets Of Hope" about residents who ran their own program and building. A completely different, and VERY hopeful approach!
Organizing should come from the residents, not from the "experts"!!
Hmmm. I'm fine with residents "organizing," as long as residents are also "paying for."
bobbolink (1000+ posts) Mon Nov-24-08 08:46 PM
Response to Reply #26
28. Thank you for continuing to look for more info....I appreciate your steadfastness.
It still kinda gives me the creeps... big brother-like.
Maybe some people need in-loco parentis. MANY of us not only don't need it, but it makes us feel strangled.
Speaking of which..... that is a common response by homeless people in a shelter.. they feel like they can't breathe.. like they are strangling. All that "oversight"...
I'm 62 years old.... I hardly need to have someone "oversee" me, and help me make a "plan". I just need a decent place to live.
Why should that be so difficult??
Yeah, why is it so hard for the bobbling primitive to find a decent place to live?
Don't the primitives believe in sharing the wealth, distributing the goods?
How come El Stupido Supremo, with his second home in Connecticut, or Doug's ex-wife with her real-estate in California, or the sparkling husband primitve with all his rental properties in Maryland, aren't practicing what they preach?
