The collaborative project ‘SieWo – A Life Free from Violence’ has helped 30 women and their children find safe accommodation. At the closing event, the project partners presented their findings and recommendations for action
Lasting protection from violence does not end when a woman or child leaves a women’s and children’s shelter. Only a secure and long-term housing prospect enables those affected to build a self-determined life. This is the conclusion reached by the joint project ‘SieWo – Sie wohnt gewaltfrei’ (SieWo – She Lives Free from Violence), which was completed after an 18-month run. At the closing event on 10 June 2026, the project partners presented their findings and recommendations. Through the project, 30 women and their children (as at 17 June 2026) were helped to find their own accommodation or were able to find a safe home themselves through the counselling and support services on offer. In addition, a targeted campaign led to a cooperation agreement and the establishment of long-term referral structures with housing organisations in Leipzig. The pilot project, implemented by HTWK Leipzig and the Kontaktstelle Wohnen, has shown that: Sustainable protection against violence for victims of domestic violence can be achieved when secure housing prospects are also ensured. The participants presented the results and recommendations for action, based on the scientific monitoring, on Wednesday 10 June 2026 at the project’s closing event.
Housing placement as a key element of protection against violence
The project addressed a key challenge within the support system for victims of violence: women and children often have to stay in shelters for longer than intended due to a lack of suitable accommodation. One of the reasons for this is a tight housing market with a shortage of affordable housing, which makes the situation for women affected by violence considerably more difficult. Many of those affected are unable to leave the shelters, even though the immediate danger has already passed, because they cannot find a flat of their own. This is where the SieWo project came in: it combined actively reaching out to landlords through a communication campaign with housing placement and individual counselling for those affected, as well as academic support from HTWK Leipzig. The results show that targeted housing placement can ease the burden on the domestic violence support system. Every successful housing placement can help to free up capacity in shelters for people in urgent need of protection.
The scientific evaluation identified three key success factors:
- Reaching out to housing organisations with suitable housing offers is crucial for successful placements.
- Raising awareness amongst housing providers and landlords increases their willingness to cooperate.
- Personal contacts and reliable partnerships strengthen trust among all parties involved and facilitate the placement process.
Sustainability remains a challenge
The presentation of the research findings marks the end, for the time being, of funding from the Free State of Saxony through the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+). The project partners, HTWK Leipzig and Kontaktstelle Wohnen, warn of the consequences of discontinuing this support service: it would lead to longer stays in shelters, place additional strain on counselling services and result in a rising number of people seeking protection being turned away. Dr Friederike Frieler, a research assistant at HTWK Leipzig, sums it up: “‘SieWo’ makes it clear that protection from violence is only sustainable if secure housing prospects are also guaranteed.”
Results and recommendations published
The key project findings and recommendations for action aimed at policymakers, the housing sector and organisations providing support to victims of violence have been published in a final report. The publication is available to download online; printed copies can be requested via the project’s contact form.
