Men's living help Oldenburg: A ray of hope for domestic violence!

Men's living help Oldenburg: A ray of hope for domestic violence!

In Oldenburg there is a ray of hope for men who suffer from domestic violence: men's residential help, the only men's protection house in Lower Saxony. Here, men who live in hopeless situations will find a safe harbor. The facility offers space for two men or a father with children and has never had empty rooms for over 20 years. Wolfgang Rosenthal, a founding member, reports that men of all ages are looking for help when their life situation becomes unbearable.

alarming statistics on domestic violence

A terrifying study by the Criminological Research Institute Lower Saxony shows that every second man is a victim of domestic violence! Despite these alarming numbers, there are only nine shelter for men all over Germany. Men's residence in Oldenburg is one of the few contact points that offer urgently needed support. In order to get a place, the men have to report by phone and have a admission interview. During your stay, which can take up to three months, you will receive support to stabilize your life and prevent violence.

But reality is tough: interest in one place is enormous, and often not all those seeking help can be accepted. Many men who need help give up when they are rejected and resign in their situation. Rosenthal emphasizes that many men often displace their experiences as victims of violence and dismiss them as "normal life money". This shows how deeply rooted the social expectations of men who prevent them from looking for help.

financial support urgently needed

The financing of men's dwelling is mainly through donations, while the city of Oldenburg supports half a position. In contrast, similar institutions in other federal states such as Bavaria receive state grants. Rosenthal and his team have been committed to more financial support from the Lower Saxony Ministry of Social Affairs for three years, but so far there has been no feedback. On International Men's Day on November 19, the disadvantage of men and the harmful role models are made aware of such tragic situations.