City of Jena signs cooperation agreement with jenawohnen

The cooperation agreement concluded between the city of Jena and the municipal housing company jenawohnen is a prelude to implementing the city council resolution of summer 2021 with the help of the major landlords. Further cooperation agreements with other housing companies are to follow.

The cooperation agreement with jenawohnen provides for more refugees to be housed in apartments. This is intended to meet the current increased demand for accommodation for refugees. Instead of a fixed contingent of apartments, it is agreed that jenawohnen will provide apartments within a short period of time after notification by the city administration. This is intended to provide the housing that those affected need.

Lord Mayor Dr. Thomas Nitzsche says: "The city has already established a good infrastructure in recent years with its seven shared accommodation facilities. Due to the current increase in the number of refugees coming to Jena, we now want to create structures at an early stage to ensure that they continue to be well accommodated - including in apartments, as decided by the city council. I would like to thank jenawohnen very much for their effective support on this issue, which is so important for the city."

Tobias Wolfrum, Managing Director of jenawohnen, added: "jenawohnen will continue to do its part to provide housing for people who have come to us in need. The cooperation agreement highlights the good collaboration with the city administration and facilitates the integration of people seeking protection. I would like to thank the Lord Mayor Dr. Thomas Nitzsche, the head of department Eberhard Hertzsch and everyone who has contributed to the success of this challenging task in the city administration and at jenawohnen."

For Eberhard Hertzsch, Head of the Social Services Department, the cooperation on refugee accommodation is also a good solution: "We know that we will continue to receive significantly more refugees for accommodation in Jena in 2022 than in the previous years 2019 and 2020. 120 people arrived in Jena in November and December 2021 alone, for whom accommodation had to be found at short notice. I would like to thank jenawohnen for their important support at the right time and hope that other housing companies in Jena will follow this example."

As at 31.12.2021: 3414 refugees in Jena (compared to 3364 in the previous year), 80% occupancy rate in seven shared accommodation facilities in the city:

• Emil-Wölk-Straße
• Spitzweidenweg
• Hugo-Schrade-Straße
• Löbstedter Straße
• Theobald-Renner-Straße
• Am Egelsee
• At the Weidigsmühle