As of: February 27, 2024, 9:00 p.m
By: Sabine Lehmann
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Informed the Altenstadt local council about the district office's plans: (from left) Helmut Hartl and Bernhard Pössinger.
© Lehmann
Additional accommodation for asylum seekers is to be built in a residential building in Altenstadt.
Up to 20 people could accommodate here.
And from March onwards.
Altenstadt – The rental agreement has already been signed and renovation work is underway.
The residential building on Altenstadter Wiesenweg will be ready for refugees to move into from mid-March.
Up to 20 people will be accommodated in the three self-contained residential units.
“Primarily families will be accommodated here,” says Bernhard Pössinger from the district office.
In addition to minor renovation work, the district provides beds and lockers, basic equipment.
The property is rented for a whopping 15 years.
“That seems very long to me,” said CSU man Michael Haslach, almost speechless.
Pössinger's answer came promptly: "If a lot is invested, the rental period is longer." But the community itself would not incur any costs, he reassured.
Maintenance, winter service and garden care would be taken over by the district office.
Haslach's party colleague Michael Dulisch wanted to know whether it was safe for only families to move into Wiesenweg.
“Or could a shared apartment come along?” The latter cannot be ruled out, says Pössinger.
However, the focus will be on families.
“If we have a mother with two children in a unit, we are less likely to accommodate individuals there,” he continued.
Three apartments for 20 people?
“We have to specify the maximum occupancy.”
Neighbors and citizens who turned up in large numbers to the public meeting were particularly shocked at the number of people who were supposed to move into Wiesenweg.
Because: Where previously only four to six people lived, almost five times as many are now expected to move in.
“Three apartments, 20 people, that seems like a lot to me,” said Peter Schiessl from the Schwabniederhofen voter community.
This is primarily a number, says Pössinger.
“We have to specify the maximum occupancy.” Konstantin Papamichail (SPD) took a harsher tone: “They rent what suits them.
I don't understand why dialogue with the local council hasn't been sought so far." This would create biases that can no longer be easily eliminated.
And this despite the fact that the local council itself is very open to the issue.
He understands the pressure from the district office to find suitable living space.
“But I think it’s important that all actors are open to one another.
After all, we’re talking about decades here.”
You can't ask every neighbor if they're okay with it, Pössinger brushed off Papamichail's objection.
“We actually don’t have to ask anyone,” the asylum officer continued.
However, we have been in very close contact with the communities for three years.
Pössinger then tried to allay the fears.
There will be no security service in Wiesenweg, but staff will be provided for support and integration assistants will be sought.
He also pointed out that the district office has an on-call number that can be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“And maybe the Altenstadt Helpers’ Circle can be revived,” he hoped.
Asylum seekers in Altenstadt - District Office provides information about the current situation
At least the mobility of newcomers should be guaranteed by bicycles, emphasized members of the asylum helper group.
However, supporting families is not a task that is done casually.
Sick children who have to be driven to the doctor, registrations for kindergarten and school, all of this depends on those who want to support due to the language barrier.
Not an easy task that the people of Altenstadt will soon have to master.
By the way: With the old Vatter building, the municipality of Altenstadt already has accommodation for refugees.
However, the district rented this to the Free State of Bavaria.
“120 people could live there.
At the moment there are between 30 and 40, which should stay that way,” said Helmut Hartl from the district office, who gave the committee an overview of the current situation.
The rental to the Free State is also the reason why no more asylum seekers can be accommodated here - even though the building is only one third occupied.
Sabine Lehmann