At the end of March, the Women's Shelter Coordination Association (FHK) learned that the project "Different yet strong: Addressing intersectionality in women's shelters" will no longer receive funding after the end of 2026 , thus ending prematurely after only two years. FHK is therefore one of over 200 projects that were originally funded through the federal program "Democracy Live!" and are now affected by a sudden end to funding mid-project.
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The goal of the FHK project is to develop practical solutions and procedures together with women's shelter staff to support even more victims of domestic violence. Women's shelters often reach their limits: lack of accessibility, language barriers, insufficient space for women with several children, difficulties with government agencies, and a lack of awareness about racism and multiple discrimination unfortunately often mean that not all affected women can find a place in a women's shelter.
In the project "Different yet strong: Addressing intersectionality in women's shelters," we are working with six women's shelters across Germany to change precisely that. The shelters entered the project with different wishes and expectations:
Ideally, in the future, the women in our women's shelter would experience no discrimination from staff or other women in the shelter. We also hope to get to know other women's shelters and organizations. We want to see what others are doing, broaden our horizons, gather ideas, and perhaps even get a little impetus to further develop things in our own shelter.
Women's shelter Bielefeld
An employee of the Freising women's shelter said at the beginning of the project:
I find it particularly valuable that the project and FHK have a strong network. They can draw on experts and specifically say: We have a concrete problem right now and need input.
The Potsdam women's shelter also started the project with specific expectations and hopes:
The women staying with us would hopefully be able to quickly develop trust. This trust arises because we are able to provide them with truly effective and appropriate support. They will then feel that they can rely on us – and that would demonstrate the success of their participation in the project.
The disappointment over the premature end of funding from the federal program "Democracy Lives!" was and remains correspondingly great:
The Potsdam women's shelter writes:
Especially in light of the Violence Assistance Act, this decision is difficult to comprehend: The legal framework for better protection is being further developed – but the expansion of the professional foundation is lagging behind. The project strengthens the professional quality in dealing with complex life situations and improves cooperation between the participating agencies. Cutting the funding ends an approach that directly addresses known structural problems. Ignoring problems does not create solutions.
Members of the project advisory board emphasize:
The project sheds light on why certain vulnerable groups affected by domestic violence often lack reliable access to protection and support. A further benefit is that it identifies starting points for change and ensures that professionals are not left to cope with this alone.
Lux Homfeldt, social worker
Cutting funding for the project is not only short-sighted, but also the opposite of effective protection against violence, which is needed now more than ever!
Davina Kronshage, Kemenate eV
In order to continue the project “Different yet strong: Addressing intersectionality in women’s shelters” as planned in 2027, we need a total of 240.000 euros.
We are really hoping for support through donations to achieve this goal!
Quality recommendations
Current women's shelter statistics
