By Sara Orlos Fernandes
They recently happily celebrated their annual summer party, now the bitter blow: 1000 seniors from Berlin’s MoRo Senior Citizens’ Housing Association will remain without care from the end of the year. The association is financially exhausted and has to abandon residents in five houses.
Without the help of the MoRo employees, Renate Kollande (95) cannot make it to the doctor or the supermarket. The association has been providing assistance in everyday life for older people for twelve years, organizing leisure activities such as the seniors’ disco and cooking a warm lunch for them every day. Now that’s over.
One of five affected facilities: The senior citizens’ home on Rollbergstrasse in Neukölln Photo: Parwez
From December 31st, the seniors will be on their own in the Neukölln facilities in Rollbergkiez (Rollbergstrasse), in Reuterkiez (Reuterstrasse), in the High-Deck-Siedlung (Heinrich-Schlusnus-Strasse) and in Treptow-Köpenick (Sterndamm and Ortolfstrasse). placed alone. 30 employees lose their jobs.
Renate Kollande (95) has lived on Rollbergstrasse since 1993: “Whether it’s an optician, ophthalmologist or shopping. I need help”
Photo: Parwez
Renate Kollande has lived in the complex in Rollbergkiez since 1993 and is very grateful for the work of the association: “Nobody gives us the opportunity to continue this with dignity. We all have to learn to cook again when this stops.”
Others are afraid of having to go to a nursing home. So far they have been living in apartments owned by the municipal company “Stadt und Land” and the rents are affordable. Many people cannot afford nursing care.
Günter Hoffmann (73) moved into the facility on Rollbergstrasse seven years ago: “We hope that MoRo will continue to receive financial support. Otherwise we will all have to go to a nursing home when these people are no longer with us.” Photo: Parwez
According to the club, the lack of funding from the Berlin Senate is the reason for the end. MoRo needs 720,000 euros per year for regular financing.
Sylvia-Fee Wadehn (71), founder of the non-profit association: “The Berlin coalition agreement does not provide for a separate department for senior citizens. We have counted on a black-red government in Berlin that is finally more committed to the interests of senior citizens. The opposite is now the case.”
The seniors don’t just want to accept this and will demonstrate in front of the Red Town Hall on September 18th.