Schäftlarner bequeathed a home to the homeless

Four years ago Josef Fencl bequeathed his house to the Munich association "BISS", which primarily works for the homeless. Now his legacy has been fulfilled in an unprecedented way.

• Josef Fencl bequeathed his house in Schäftlarn to the “BISS” association.
• Two homeless street newspaper vendors were the first to rent.
• Now a refugee family with seven children has moved in.

Hohenschäftlarn - Rashidat Kadri is beaming. With her one-year-old daughter in her arms, she follows Karin Lohr, managing director of the association “Citizens in Social Difficulties” (BISS) from room to room. Four years ago she came with her family from Nigeria to Germany, since then she, her husband and seven children have lived in a refugee shelter . This has an end now.

Nobody in "BISSS" knew the testator

Thanks to Fencl's generous gift, Rashidat Kadri, husband Afeez and their children now have a wonderful home. “We didn't even know the testator,” recalls Lohr from BISS. The 59-year-old can only speculate then and now why her club was given such generous consideration: “Mr. Fencl was born in 1931 in the Czech Republic. I think he had to flee himself and therefore knows what it is like not to have a roof over your head. ”She is grateful.

Sometimes I stand there and just say, man, Mr. Fencl, thank you very much, you did a good job.

“We couldn't have done it better, also because the people in Schäftlarn, especially the neighbors, are very friendly and helpful,” she says. Lohr has to laugh. "Sometimes I stand there and just say, man, Mr. Fencl, thank you very much, you did a good job. '"

House brought back into shape

Around a year and a half ago, craftsman and architect Christian Herde took over the reins. Floors were renewed, pipes laid, a functional kitchen was installed. "We always made sure that we work sustainably, that is, with companies from the region, and what was still good is used further," explains Lohr. "For example, only the glazing was renewed on the front door."

First tenant since Christmas 2019

Shortly before Christmas 2019, the first two tenants, Odo Validner and Mihai Tajcs, who work at BISS as permanent street newspaper sellers, moved in . Everyone lives in a room in the basement, the kitchen and bathroom are shared by the men. But “our little gem” has been upgraded even further, such as by insulating the roof and switching the heating from oil to gas. The apartment on the ground floor and the attic were renovated, the garden with its beautiful fruit trees and vegetable patch restored.

The association BISS

The association “Citizens in Social Difficulties” was founded in Munich in 1993 to give people in need employment. This consists primarily of the sale of the street newspaper BISS, which appears monthly with a circulation of 38,000 copies. The seller keeps half of the sales price of 2.20 euros. The association is financed through sales and donations.

Handing over the keys to the Kadri refugee family

“It wouldn't have been so great without our employee Vinko Rubic,” praises social worker Johannes Denninger, who, like Mischa Kunz from the Munich Volunteers Association, came to the Kadri family in Hohenschäftlarn to hand over the keys. And then the big moment has come: in the presence of everyone, Lohr hands over the key. “We hope for a good house community and good togetherness. I am sure you will fall in love with this house as much as we do. ”When the family moved in, there was a special present:“ A washing machine, ”says Lohr. “Because you will certainly be able to use them in your large household.

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