Homes and Customers
Direct and Rapid Help on Arrival in Germany
A similar show of solidarity was seldom so required politically, economically and socially as following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As one of Europe’s largest real estate companies, it is important for us to help wherever help is directly needed – for example where refugees arrive and need a safe haven. We thus rapidly and unbureaucratically provided mainly one thing in 2022: homes. Together with other residential real estate companies, we used the house map instrument that had already been tested during the refugee crisis of 2015/2016. Using the common platform, the municipalities were offered vacant homes specifically for fleeing families.
We also offered our resources and skills to aid organizations. Using the hashtag #wirhelfen, Deutsche Wohnen quickly created an effective social media aid campaign. Following a € 10,000 donation to “Die Arche,” a children’s foundation that supports living communities for people with and without disabilities around the world – including in Ukraine – the company also delivered furniture to Lviv, for instance. The campaign also helped Ukrainian designer Ewa Herzog to provide a Berlin living community consisting of Ukrainian refugees with desperately needed furniture. Since May 2022, Deutsche Wohnen has also been able to make a total of 140 apartments available under the #wirhelfen campaign.
Deutsche Wohnen #wirhelfen campaign in figures
- 12 organizations supported
- 800 hours of work donated
- 180 employees involved
- 3,000 aid packages packed with care and hygiene items
- 200 school bags filled with stationery and candy