An empty room can make a big difference
Affordable housing is in short supply. For students and trainees in particular, finding suitable accommodation in Magdeburg is becoming increasingly difficult. At the same time, there are people who have a spare room or who would like some support and more social interaction in their daily lives. This is precisely where the ‘MIT einander – FÜR einander’ project run by the Magdeburg Studentenwerk comes in.
The idea is simple: to bring people together who can benefit from one another. Students and trainees gain access to affordable accommodation, whilst those providing accommodation can gain support in their daily lives and forge new social connections. It’s not just about accommodation, but about encounters, conversations and a sense of community that transcends generations and cultures.
“For me, the name sums up very well what our project is all about: people meeting on equal terms and fostering a sense of community from which both sides can benefit,” says project coordinator Marie Pöhlmann. For her, the project is also a labour of love: “Magdeburg is my home town. That’s why I want to play my part in bringing people closer together again.”
From a spare room to a housing partnership
The Studentenwerk doesn’t simply arrange accommodation; it supports the entire process. Prospective hosts and those looking for accommodation complete registration with the project co-ordinators and set out their ideas, preferences and requirements in a profile. The accommodation on offer is assessed in person. This creates a reliable framework for both sides.
Based on this information, the Studentenwerk searches for suitable partners. If expectations align, both parties get to know each other at a face-to-face meeting. Only when everyone involved feels comfortable are the mutual agreements formalised. “You don’t have to be a
perfect match,” explains Marie Pöhlmann. “Often, it is precisely the differences in age, background or lifestyle that make a flat-sharing arrangement exciting. What matters most is the willingness to treat one another with interest and respect.”
A living partnership thrives on mutual respect and clear agreements. Both parties should talk openly about their expectations, wishes and boundaries. This helps to avoid misunderstandings and creates a shared home.
Openness is the most important prerequisite
Our staff can also support the project in various ways. We are particularly looking for people who would like to make a suitable room available in their flat or house. However, recommendations from within one’s own circle – such as a club, church congregation, neighbourhood or circle of friends – are also helpful. Many people have spare rooms or are looking for ways to experience support and a sense of community in their everyday lives.
Marie Pöhlmann has been particularly moved by the personal encounters. When people talk about their living situation, the challenges they face in everyday life, or why they can envisage a living partnership, it becomes clear that there are genuine needs and life stories behind the project.
Marie Pöhlmann’s vision is that, in a few years’ time, shared living arrangements will be a natural part of life in Magdeburg: “When people have a spare room or young people are looking for a flat, the idea of a shared living arrangement should be just as obvious as other forms of accommodation.” She hopes that the project will become firmly established in the city and that a strong network will develop. “Ideally, in three to five years’ time, many people in Magdeburg will be familiar with the project and know who to turn to. Above all, I hope that we will then be able to look back on many successful housing partnerships. Not only because they have created living space, but because they have led to encounters that might otherwise never have taken place.”
Anyone wishing to be part of this initiative can contact the project coordination team at the Magdeburg Studentenwerk. Because a spare room can lead to so much more: a new home, a connection and a genuine sense of ‘living together’.
TEXT: Ines Perl