End of an era: station mission in Gießen before the end

End of an era: station mission in Gießen before the end

social help at the train station in front of

The station mission in Gießen, which has supported people in need at the train station for over 100 years, is facing the end. The closure at the end of August comes due to the lack of financial support from the Diakonie Hessen and the Caritas Association. The usual 200,000 euros from Lottomement were deleted from 1st January 2024, which made the continuation of the station mission impossible.

an important anchor for those seeking help

The station mission may seem antiquated at first glance, but for the 40 to 50 people who were looking for support there every day, it was an important point of contact. From breakfast to good words to the supply of clothes, the team around social worker Elisabeth Njionhou Njomehe offered help for stranded, be it when traveling or in life. With his work, the volunteer team contributed a lot to cope with the often hectic station everyday life.

effects on the community

The closure of the station mission not only represents a gap in the social support of those in need, but also has an impact on the community. With the loss of low -threshold social work, many people who urgently need help at the train station are now on their own. It remains to be seen how street social work and other actors will react to this change.

future challenges

The decision of the Diakonie Hessen to no longer forward the previous funds to the station mission raises questions about how social support for the needy should be guaranteed in the future. Solutions have to be found to ensure that those who were dependent on the help of the station mission are not abandoned.

It remains to be seen that alternative financing models or a rethink on the part of Diakonie Hessen will make it possible to continue the important work of the station mission.