Life in the Women’s Shelter

Our house has space for 20 women and their children. Each woman or each family is accommodated in a private room. The common areas and the lockable bathrooms are shared by the community. A converted attic serves as a common day room and there is a supervised children’s area for the children and a garden.
Women with different backgrounds live in the women’s shelter Cocon, transwomen are also welcome. Due to the fact that many women and children are living here together, the noise level can be a bit higher at times and it can also be very lively. At the same time the inhabitants often support each other and we strive to create a community spirit and an atmosphere of harmony and solidarity. Besides everyday life we love to get together for sharing breakfast, celebrating a party and even going on an excursion sometimes.

We, the employees, are available for the inhabitants Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm. There are daily fixed office hours and opening hours of the various areas for the inhabitants and their children. At night there is an on-call night duty in the women’s shelter to help in case of a problem or a crisis.

Photos of our House

Offers for Women

A personal counsellor is assigned to every person staying in the women’s shelter for the duration of their stay. Mothers as well as pregnant women are given an additional personal counsellor from the children’s area team. In weekly counselling sessions we assist you in preparing your first steps towards an independent life free of violence. We give you advice on questions like termination of the old tenancy agreement, court proceedings, residence related questions, how to apply for social welfare and finding housing. Furthermore, we know of many other counselling centres that can help with questions of a more complicated nature. If necessary, we provide an interpreter during our consultation session.

During our regular house meetings we organize life in the community and discuss important issues relating to our everyday life in the house. Here you as a resident have the chance to exchange your ideas with the other inhabitants and with the employees. You can make suggestions and express your wishes.

Moreover our psychologists are available for low-threshold psychological counselling and crisis intervention. The counselling sessions are confidential. There are also group sessions and sometimes offers provided by external specialists.

Photos of our Children’s Area

Our offers for children

Our beautiful, bright and well-equipped playroom gives the children living with us a space where they can play, relax, have fun and let their creativity run free. The large outdoor area also invites them to romp around. We listen to their concerns and worries and help them to cope with the violence they have experienced before. We talk about their wishes and ideas and together we think about ways how to realise them. We are also happy to help with their homework.
Joint leisure activities and excursions take place during the school holidays. Outside the women’s shelter, we offer various activities for school children in cooperation with male educators.
We organise regular children’s meetings where you can talk about your special situation, your fears and worries. You get to know other children and teenagers with whom you can exchange ideas and perhaps even make friends.
We celebrate summer and winter parties with all the children and women at the women’s shelter.