Nursing home in Berlin closed – now it becomes an asylum seekers’ center

Russia’s war in Ukraine led to the largest refugee influx since World War II. Nearly 4.9 million Ukrainians have fled to Europe – including Switzerland and Germany. Space must be made for them.

André Steiner therefore has to vacate his 5-room apartment in Seegräben ZH. Also in Windisch AG, 49 tenants are said to be looking for a new apartment where asylum seekers can take up residence. A similar picture is emerging in Germany: first 40 tenants from Lörrach have to move, and now a nursing home in Berlin has to be converted into a refugee shelter. 110 residents must leave their home “Wonen & Zorg Schillerpark” by the end of the year, writes “Focus”.

The nursing home belongs to the Johannisstift Diakonie (JSD). The Johannisstift had agreed with owner Paul Gerhardt Stift (PGS) in 2006 that they could stay until 2031. But the lease was terminated prematurely.

“Tears Have Flowed”

The first refugees have moved into their new homes. “During the evictions, tears already flowed among those affected who were fired,” reports the family member of a resident who lives in an adjacent retirement home. And: “Containers stood in front of the building for days, the furniture was simply thrown away.” Some nursing home residents depend on artificial oxygen supply, but still have to move.

JSD and PGS disagree over who decided to dissolve the retirement home. The PGS claims that the home will be closed “at the request of the Johannisstift Diakonie”. “The Paul Gerhardt Stift has signed up for its own use in 2021,” says the JSD.

The reason for the early termination of the lease was “differing ideas about the agreed rent increases according to the rental and lease agreements,” JSD spokeswoman Focus said in a statement. But instead of moving to another building, the JSD decided to evict the 110 elderly in need of care.

The decision was taken at the request of the National Office for Refugees

According to the monastery, long-term planning was not possible for either the residents or the employees. It is no secret that a nursing home is more expensive than a refugee home. There are national subsidies for the latter. The PGS denied to the “Berliner Zeitung” that it was an economic decision. It is based solely on “the requests of the State Refugee Agency”.

Some residents have already found a new home. Finding new housing is a burden for many seniors who use wheelchairs or depend on 24-hour care. The PGS head visited the residents during Wednesday coffee and listened to their questions and concerns. “But the desperation of the residents rolled off him like water,” says a resident of “Focus”. (jwg)

Source: Blick