The multi-generation house (MGH) has long been an indispensable part of Bad Kissingen. Whether small or large, old or young – if you look for a suitable offer there, you will usually find what you need in your life situation, because the program is diverse. It is now clear that federal funding will again flow to Bad Kissingen in 2021 – even a little more than in previous years.
There was already a “generation house” in Bad Kissingen in 2003 in the building that now houses the district court. However, this facility was only included in the federal funding program as a “multi-generation house” in 2007 – the facility had since moved to Ludwigstrasse. Since 2014 the MGH has found a new home in the AOK building, opposite the district office.
Funding period now eight years
The MGH team had long since implemented the goal called for by the federal government, namely the “creation of equal living conditions”, and launched numerous offers in this regard, such as the Café International, qualification courses for day care, the Wednesday meeting for mothers who Contact exchange, flexible childcare or the internet meeting point for girls and women.
The new federal program for multi-generation houses has been under discussion since 2020 and came into force on January 1, 2021. The most important innovation: While the last funding period lasted for four years (2017 to 2020), this period has now been extended to eight years (2021 to 2028). The good news: The Generations Network Association is now receiving 10,000 euros more from the federal government, for a total of 40,000 euros.
The condition for funding at the Federal Ministry for Family, Seniors, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) is always that the districts and municipalities also show themselves willing to receive their own MGH.
In recent years this has meant that the city and district of Bad Kissingen each contribute 5,000 euros to the annual funding. The Free State is also supporting the MGH with half a staff position for integration and 5000 euros for the special project digital education for senior citizens.
“The federal government doesn’t just want an expression of will, but a decision,” said District Administrator Thomas Bold at the time in the district committee meeting. As early as July 2020, the city of Bad Kissingen and the district again promised these sums for 2021.
In addition, the district and MGH have been working closely together on several projects for years, which also has a financial impact. This applies to the childminder initiative, for example. In 2006, the youth welfare office officially delegated the further training of child day-care workers and the placement of children in care relationships to the Association of Generations Network. This “day care minder exchange” was very well received in the following years. The responsibility for planning lies with the youth welfare office. This initiative is financed through the youth welfare budget. There are similar cooperation agreements, for example, for the “Early Help” projects (to support expectant parents and families with children up to three years of age) or for “Accompanied Interactions” (for example for separated couples who find it difficult to deal with regularly to regulate the children).
“The fact that the funding period has been extended to eight years gives us more security in planning in the future,” said MGH managing director Iris Hönig in an interview with this editorial team. As far as the funding amount is concerned, however, initially only that for 2021 is in the towel.
The responsible Federal Minister Franziska Giffey had already indicated that all further funding must first be approved in the respective budget year. Hönig continues to have to send a new application for funding to the federal government every year – a, as she says, very time-consuming matter.
But now she is happy about the additional 10,000 euros in federal funds. Because in the past few years the MGH had only just managed to get the money, says the managing director.
The rents have risen and the personnel costs have also increased. Annual deficits were inevitable. In 2019, for example, there was a deficit of at least 9,000 euros for the operation of the MGH. So it is reassuring, Hönig continues, that at least the deficit has now been covered.
Interview: learning mentors as an example for future interaction
Iris Hönig took over the management of the Mehrgenerationenhaus (MGH) on November 1st, 2011, after having successfully managed the Bad Kissinger Tafel for many years. The 57-year-old business administration graduate used to have to deal with facts and figures as a sales district manager at Telekom. When she talks about the work in the multigenerational house, you can see her lively commitment to the people who turn to the MGH.
In your opinion, how important is it to have such a contact point in Bad Kissingen?
Iris Hönig: This is very important because the multigenerational house gives people easy access to what is on offer. This means that you can use these courses and seminars without having to become a member. And everyone can come to us, regardless of age, religion, origin or social position.
Name two projects in the multigenerational house that are particularly close to your heart.
Even before the pandemic, we had digital education for older people as an important component in our program. Now it has shown that it was a very good idea, because even during the pandemic, the senior citizens were able to continue their education with our support. But my mentoring project in connection with our integrative offers is also close to my heart. In this project, volunteers get involved with people with a migration background – in all possible areas of life, regardless of whether it is about schoolwork for children or accompanying them to an authority.
The Federal Ministry made it clear that in the future intergenerational projects should move even more into the spotlight. What do you mean with that?
This means that we want to network our offers for young and old even better. Because it is just the case that the respective age groups usually stay among themselves in the various courses. This is where you have to start in the future and try to bring the generations closer to each other, as has already been achieved with our mentoring project and digital education, for example.
The conversation went on
Isolde Krapf.
–
