Social Affairs and Housing Policy in Weimar: Focus on Inclusion, Cemetery Fees, and Social Participation

Inclusion and Accessibility: Discounted Admission for People with Disabilities

Weimar is reinforcing its inclusion policy with a proposal from the SPD faction. The proposal calls for the introduction of discounted admission fees for people with disabilities at the Schwansee Bath. The rationale of the proposal is clearly defined: the discount aims to promote equal opportunities and inclusion while also taking into account the additional costs of everyday life for people with disabilities.

A supplementary motion, also submitted by the SPD faction, stipulates that the Council for People with Disabilities be consulted before a final decision is made. This emphasizes the participatory approach gaining increasing importance in Weimar's social policy. The proposal was submitted on February 2, 2026, and is part of a broader discussion on accessibility and social justice, which also extends to public transport and other public facilities.

Combating Loneliness: Development of a Municipal Action Plan

In February, Weimar decided to develop a municipal action plan against loneliness. This process is characterized by a strong participatory approach: all relevant stakeholders are to be involved, including existing programs such as AGATHE, districts and neighborhood centers, as well as the Volunteer Agency.

The action plan aims to consolidate existing offerings and supplement them with new measures such as meeting cafés, neighborhood networks, and digital participation opportunities. In Weimar, loneliness is no longer viewed as an isolated problem of a specific age group, but as a city-wide challenge exacerbated by demographic change, altered family structures, and health limitations.

Funding is provided through the state program "solidarisches Zusammenleben" (LSZ) and other funding sources. The municipal action plan is a central pillar of social policy in Weimar, emphasizing both prevention and active support.

Cemetery Fee Ordinance: Clarity, Transparency, and Legal Foundations

Another focus of Weimar's social policy is the revision of the cemetery fee ordinance. The previous ordinance from January 25, 2012, has been revoked and replaced by a new regulation. The new ordinance sets clear fees for grave use, including for urn selection graves (UGW) and earth selection graves (EWG).

The fees are structured according to the number of burial spaces. Thus, the fee for an urn selection grave with up to two urns is 686.20 euros. For earth burials, the costs are accordingly higher – for an earth selection grave with one earth burial and up to two urns, the fee amounts to 1,363.20 euros. The fees also include 19% value added tax.

The discussion in the Family and Social Committee showed that the duration of grave availability and alternative burial forms such as tree graves or forest burials were also in the focus. Furthermore, the importance of honor cemeteries, which are not included in the fee calculation, was highlighted.

Clarity in the fee structure is a central aspect of the new ordinance – it aims to create transparency while also ensuring the economic viability of cemetery management.

Outlook: Social Policy as a Central Building Block of Urban Development

In February 2026, Weimar is in a phase of intensive social policy planning and implementation. The topics of inclusion, social participation, and the fight against loneliness are no longer isolated projects, but part of a comprehensive approach that strengthens Weimar's identity as a livable and inclusive city.

The introduction of discounted admission fees for people with disabilities, the development of a municipal action plan against loneliness, and the clear regulation of cemetery fees show: Weimar is pursuing a policy that not only aims for short-term solutions, but for sustainable structures that are accessible to all citizens.