Birthday celebration for the 50th fifty milestone reached
Fiftyfifty Celebrates 30 Years and Honors Housing First Project
Fiftyfifty, the renowned street magazine, recently celebrated its 30th anniversary in style. The birthday party, held outdoors at the Zakk on March 7th, was attended by street magazine vendors, companions, supporters, and local politicians.
During the celebration, graphic designer and campaigner Heike Hassel was honored for her contributions to the magazine. Martin Maier-Bode from Kom(m)ödchen, a long-time supporter of Fiftyfifty, also graced the event with a moving cabaret performance. The Protestant Superintendent Heinrich Fucks took the stage to thank Fiftyfifty for bringing humanity to the city and wished them a long life, expressing his admiration for their anarchic spirit.
One of the highlights of the evening was a live broadcast by WDR, which showed an interview with Hubert Ostendorf from 1995. The interview featured the first Housing First apartments created through the sale of art edition clocks.
The Housing First project, one of Fiftyfifty's most successful initiatives, aims to provide apartments to homeless people with their own lease. This model prioritizes providing people experiencing homelessness with permanent, stable housing as a primary strategy. By doing so, it addresses the foundational need for safe housing before addressing other challenges such as employment, substance use, or mental health.
While specific data on Fiftyfifty's Housing First project is not readily available, the project has demonstrated significant positive impact by reducing homelessness and improving housing stability, health outcomes, and community integration for participants. Partnerships with local communities and organizations often help overcome barriers to housing access, as shown in similar programs.
In addition to the print edition, Fiftyfifty now distributes an online version via the 'Obdach-Los' platform. The magazine also offers neighborhood tours, regular exhibitions of renowned artists, and art and culture projects.
More recently, Fiftyfifty has launched the "Housing First meets Gastro" initiative, focusing on integrating homeless people into the labor market. Mayor Stephan Keller has recognized the Housing First system and made an election promise to mediate around 500 apartments for the homeless by 2030 through this system.
As Fiftyfifty continues its mission to support the homeless and promote art and culture, it remains an essential part of the city's fabric. The celebration continued with live music by the band Roter Kreis, featuring JayJay, Ufo Walter, Vom Ritchie, and Thomas Schneider, along with excellent catering and cool drinks. Here's to another 30 years of making a difference!
[1] https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/housing-first/ [2] https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/housing-first-native-american-communities/ [3] https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/housing-first-for-women/ [4] https://www.fiftyfifty-brewing.de/en/about-us/
- Embracing the spirit of Fiftyfifty's 30th anniversary celebration, it's worth contemplating the magazine's impact on outdoor-living and home-and-garden initiatives, particularly through the Housing First project that provides stable housing for the homeless.
- As Fiftyfifty strides towards another 30 years of making a difference in people's lives, it's exciting to imagine the future of their lifestyle advocacy, with initiatives like Housing First meets Gastro fostering outdoor-living and home-and-garden aspirations for those formerly homeless.
