The support system for women affected by violence still suffers from glaring deficiencies. For example, women affected by violence in rural areas often cannot find specific facilities; approximately 90 districts in Germany still lack their own women's shelter. In urban areas, women often have to wait long periods for admission to a women's shelter or for a counseling appointment due to a lack of capacity.
Existing support services are particularly inadequate for women facing additional burdens, such as women with disabilities or mental health conditions, as well as migrant women or women with older sons. This was the conclusion of a 2012 report by the German Federal Government. Furthermore, the organizations that run women's shelters and specialized counseling centers lack a reliable funding base and face significant funding gaps.
The financing landscape of women's shelters and specialist counseling centers in Germany resembles a patchwork quilt: funding sources include state and municipal funds, as well as cost contributions from women and the providers' own resources, including donations and fines.
In many municipalities, stays in women's shelters are financed through women's entitlement to benefits under the Social Code (SGB II, SGB XII). However, this form of funding is problematic because it excludes certain groups of women or limits the assistance available. This affects, for example, EU citizens, students, trainees, asylum seekers, or women with income. Women without entitlement to benefits under the Social Code can only receive protection and assistance if they cover the costs of counseling and accommodation in the women's shelter themselves.
Additional hurdles arise when, for example, women are required to seek refuge in a women's shelter in another municipality for protection reasons. However, because reimbursement of costs between municipalities is difficult, these women are often turned away.
Read more about how FHK is committed to sustainable funding for protection and assistance in cases of violence , as well as better resources for the support system .
Cost study on the support system for victims of domestic and gender-based violence,
Study commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, 2023
Discussion paper by FHK: The legal right to protection and assistance in cases of violence 2017
“Report of the Federal Government on the situation of women’s shelters, specialist advice centers and other support services for women and their children affected by violence” , published by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, Berlin 2012.
The following federal associations are members of the Women’s Shelter Coordination Association
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