Fugereia is the world’s oldest social housing project, providing subsidized housing for Augsburg residents facing financial difficulties. There are 140 dwellings with about 150 people, 30 to 40 new arrivals every year, and a waiting line of about 80.
Noel Gobadia (28) started living here as a teenager when his mother and younger brother moved to Fugerei. She was a single mother and the family was struggling financially. At first, Noel was concerned, he admits in a conversation with “Deutsche Welle” – most of the residents were elderly, but they were the first family of migrant origin.
However, Fugereia’s offering of communal gathering spaces encourages social interaction between neighbors and helps dispel any suspicions. “Communication solves everything,” says Noel. “We all sat together in the beer garden. You help someone install a TV and soon you have a second family.” When Noel turned 20, he moved into a separate home, a few doors down from his mother and brother.
While many in Berlin and other German cities are driven to despair by high rent prices, Noel need not fear: “I was able to live on the little money I earned during my internship because that huge rent burden was removed. I was given the opportunity to focus on myself and start building the foundations for my life.”
Ilona Barbera has been living here for the past seven years and has been trying to live off her pension until then. “At Christmas, I received a message that I got the apartment. It was my Christmas present,” says the 72-year-old lady. She settled in 55 square meters with two dogs, two cats and six birds.
When Ilona isn’t working the ticket office at the gate collecting entrance fees from tourists (one of Fugerei’s sources of income), she spends time with her neighbors and attends community events like movie nights and coffee hours. “I appreciate the solidarity, the community that we have here. And the fact that you don’t have to count every cent,” the senior citizen is happy.
Two social workers are available in Fugerei, whose duties include processing applications, mediating neighborhood disputes, and helping with bureaucratic requirements.
“I liaise with health insurance companies, medical services and often accompany people to their appointments to ensure they are getting what they need to continue living as independently as possible in their own homes,” explains Doris Herzog.
However, not only the rent has not changed since 1521, but one more rule – residents must pray three times a day for the founder of the village, Jakobs Fuger, who hoped to get from purgatory to paradise sooner. This requirement is included in the tenancy agreement, as is another stipulation that the tenants must be Catholic.
While it’s difficult to verify that everyone actually prays three times a day, Herzog checks applicants’ status with the parish office to make sure potential tenants are Catholic.
Applicants must also be residents of Augsburg, and those who are able are expected to help with even small jobs, such as gardening or being a night watchman. After ten in the evening, the gates of Fugereia are locked, and those residents who wish to return after this time must pay a small fee to the night watchman, usually 50 cents – more than half a year’s rent!
The founder Jakob Fuger (1459-1525) was a prominent Augsburg merchant. Along with his successful business, he was a pioneer in creating affordable housing for the poor.
At that time, poor families were often separated and sent to so-called workhouses. “The Fugers kept families together,” emphasizes Astrid Gabler, head of communication at the Fugger Foundation. “He believed that families who had their own privacy had a better chance of getting back on their feet.”
On August 23, 1521, Fougere signed the order for the foundation of Fougereia. As the centuries passed, the property grew in size, more apartments were built, as well as a gift shop and a museum for an ever-increasing number of tourists.
A bunker was built during the Second World War to protect the population from bombing. The Fuger family still lives on, and its members manage the said foundation, which also owns the unique village.
2023-08-13 16:20:00
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