Social Policy and Housing Policy in Oldenburg: Focus on Violence Prevention, Integration, and Neighborhood Concepts

Social Policy and Housing Policy in Oldenburg: Focus on Violence Prevention, Integration, and Neighborhood Concepts

Social policy and housing policy have been of central importance in Oldenburg over the past weeks. In the Committee for Integration and Migration, key measures to strengthen violence prevention, promote the integration of refugees, and reinforce municipal cooperation were discussed and partially adopted. At the same time, new funding models and structural adjustments in the area of neighborhood concepts were presented.

Violence Prevention: New Structures and Evaluation Processes

A central topic was the continuation of the Municipal Action Plan against Violence against Women. The plan includes 87 measures, 39 of which have already begun by 2025, and 28 of which are ongoing or require repetition. The city is employing a broad range of measures, from awareness campaigns and workshops to cooperation with bars and associations.

Another milestone is the construction of the new Women and Children's Shelter, which will offer 14 spaces, barrier-free access, and 24/7 care. In addition, the "Oranje Huis" will be established as an extension of the existing offer, following the Dutch model. This project aims to improve the care of women with disabilities, for which information materials in plain language are also being developed.

A point of criticism remained the formulation of the Valentine's Day campaign, which was perceived by some as unbalanced. The city will focus more on evaluations and feedback from the population in the future.

Integration: Updating the Integration Concept and Funding Gaps

The Integration Council celebrated its 40th anniversary this month, and members like Ramirez were honored for their work. At the same time, a new integration concept is being developed, with a planned presentation in March 2026. The focus is on the action field "Solidarity Together" and the fight against racism and discrimination.

A central problem, however, is the funding gap for shelters for women who do not have a right to social benefits. The city plans to ensure comprehensive funding in accordance with the Violence Protection Act from 2032. In addition, a proposal for mandatory participation in integration courses by social benefit recipients was discussed.

Funding for migration counseling and integration promotion amounted to 240,000 euros in 2025, distributed among various providers such as the German Red Cross or the Diakonie. A further 202,759 euros were invested in projects such as the FKB structure project or the Integration Prize.

Neighborhood Concepts: Budget Spending and Inclusive Projects

Another focus was the presentation of the Neighborhood Budget 2026, which provides a total of 96,000 euros. The model is based on the Heidelberg model and takes into account population size, SGB-II cases, and a base amount. The distribution is as follows:

• North-East: 18,500 euros
• South-East: 27,000 euros
• Center-West: 26,500 euros
• North-West: 24,000 euros

The goal is to strengthen social cohesion through self-organized projects. The city is also supporting an Inclusive Neighborhood Management, which integrates projects into existing structures. Applications can be submitted digitally via the city's service portal.

Outlook: Integration and Social Policy in the Spotlight

The developments in February show that Oldenburg is pursuing a clear course in the areas of social and housing policy: strengthening violence prevention, promoting integration, and investing in municipal structures. Central challenges remain the funding gaps in the area of shelters and the long-term implementation of the integration concept.

In March 2026, a further milestone will be reached with the presentation of the updated integration concept. At the same time, evaluation processes of the Municipal Action Plan against Violence against Women are ongoing, which will place even greater emphasis on sustainability and participation in the future.