The history of the Christian Refugee Aid Egelsbach/Erzhausen

In 1987, Egelsbach was expecting the first refugees. They were to be housed in an old hotel on the B 3 in the Bayerseich district. Then, as now, there were protests against the reception. We - the Refugee Working Group - got involved with the people in this accommodation. We offered language courses, teatime, sports activities, supervision of school children and advice on residence rights. This was how the first integration was achieved.

The quality of the accommodation in the Hotel Wildpark was very poor and the landlord was paid a lot of money for it. We didn't want to put up with that any longer. We spoke to the Christian churches, Caritas and Diakonie. We convinced them that they could do better by providing good accommodation and integration. The local community supported the project. The Christian Refugee Aid was founded in 1989 as a non-profit organization.

The first house for two families was bought in the same year and the first social worker was hired, who also looked after the refugees in the old hotel. In 1991 a second house was added on a rental basis and finally in 1996 the CFEE's own house in Im Geisbaum for 40 people. All the refugees from the old hotel were able to move in, and the hotel was demolished. Today terraced houses stand there.

The number of refugees fell and two houses were closed. But the number of refugees rose again from 2015 onwards. There was even temporary container accommodation and more living space, which was rented from the town hall. Another solution for humanitarian accommodation was needed. After long negotiations, the former senior citizens' home on Dresdener Strasse was acquired and converted. Our goal of humanitarian accommodation in self-contained housing units and good socio-educational advice and support, as well as support from volunteers, can be achieved in all accommodations.

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