Students live for free in inclusive shared flats, in return they help their fellow residents with disabilities in everyday life. This is how life works in the colorful apartment buildings in Graz.
Mopping the floor: This is the only task that Lukas Schuster needs help with. The 29-year-old is in a wheelchair and has lived in an inclusive Alpha Nova shared flat for ten years. His girlfriend, Jana Fischer (22), also came by four years ago. “You can control your own day-to-day life here,” explains Schuster. “But of course there are challenges. For example, the living room may not be tidy when someone comes to visit.” Just like in any other apartment building.
Apartment had to be partially renovated
However, there are some differences between cobblers and fishermen. The kitchen, in which the wheelchair user likes to cook spaghetti with meat sauce for his partner, had to be renovated. “The shelves are lower and you need room to get around with a wheelchair,” Fischer explains. The entrance door opens automatically, a ramp leads to the elevator, the shower is barrier-free. “And the location is very important. The more central, the easier it is to get everywhere with a wheelchair.”
There are eight rooms available for students
Unfortunately, such apartments are scarce in Graz, says Anita Wasner, who coordinated the project. According to the Styrian Building Act, new buildings must be designed in such a way that wheelchair users can reach the apartment door. Inside, however, you just have to be sure that the apartment can be easily converted. All the more important are the inclusive residential communities. “They’ve been around for almost 20 years. It all started with a mother who was looking for a roommate for her son.”
Although the price is so high, eight rooms are currently available for students. “Before Corona, we were almost always full. Now the threshold seems bigger.” The students live for free. They finance their share of the rent by helping eight to twelve hours a week. This can be cooking together and helping with the household as well as an outing. They are paid from their personal budget, a benefit from the Styrian Disability Act.
The housemates do not need any special training or experience in the social sector. “We pay attention to how social someone is and how they interact with others. How do the residents interact with each other? During the conversation, you quickly notice whether it fits or not,” says Wasner. An extract from the criminal record and an application are required.
With more open eyes through the world
The inclusive flatshare for Djeneba Touré was a perfect match. The 26-year-old student has been living like this for three months. “I mostly help with cleaning and cooking,” she says, “but we also do game nights and leisure together.”
Touré has no experience working with people with disabilities. “I was looking for a flat stock, and it was just the perfect fit.” Since then, the Graz resident has been going through the world with more open eyes. “I never realized before how difficult it is to get through a door in a wheelchair.”
The inclusive flatshare is also the right solution for 33-year-old Valentin Hauer, who is studying software engineering. “We clicked right away,” he says. “I like that there is community life.” Hauer and Touré agree, as she says: “I would definitely recommend it. You learn a lot about yourself and do something social.”
Contact iwg@alphanova.at
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
