General
 |
Sozialverein B37 Bethlehemstraße 37 4020 Linz/Donau Tel.: 0043/(0)732/77 86 82-0 E-Mail: sozialverein@b37.at |
Since 1988 this non-profit association offers people with an acute need of accommodation support and habitation. In institutions in several locations multi disciplinary teams endeavour to create human circumstances for men and women, who drifted to the edge of society. In the lead time street workers motivate and assist these people in the area surrounding the central station and downtown Linz. 1988 the Salvation Army abandoned Linz, leaving a house in poor constructional condition, which was inhabited by approximately 160 people at that time. This orphaned building, located in the Bethlehemstrasse 37 was then bought by the Institution of the Magistrat Linz. The newly founded independent association “Sozialheim B37” eventually rented this domicile from the City Linz and carried it on as a residence for homeless people. 1992 a shift in the management took place, and associated with this event, also a reorientation of the requirements. Up to this point, 7 social workers took care of about 180 individuals in two houses. Support in these terms means hard work 24 hours, 7 days a week throughout the year. Thereby it was almost impossible to perform effective social support. In addition to this, the target audience was expanding and had to be treated in different ways. However, to make appropriate decisions and create efficient counteractive measurements, the required financial resources were lacking. In this phase of upheaval, the association – now “Sozialverein B37”- decided to approach the Institution of the Land Upper Austria by trying to resurrect it as investor for additional financial support. Before the Upper Austrian law for social support was established in 1999, the subventions were equally distributed between both Institutions, the City of Linz and the Land Upper Austria. Consequently only the Institution of the Land Upper Austria appeared as financial backing, creating the big advantage of providing cooperation with the Institution of the Land Upper Austria on all levels. |