Nordhessenhalle is prepared for accommodation of refugees

Together with the city of Volkmarsen, the Waldeck-Frankenberg district is currently making all the preparations to get the Nordhessenhalle ready to take in up to 300 refugees from Ukraine. The work in the hall and for the corresponding infrastructure should be completed by mid-April. As things stand, it is not yet clear when the hall will actually be occupied - and this will depend in particular on the allocations made by the state of Hesse.

Hall can be used regularly until April 4
Already in the next few days, the tents for catering and medical supplies will be erected on the grounds of the multipurpose hall, and containers with showers and toilets will be set up. Then, from April 4, the interior of the hall itself will be prepared. Until then, the events and sports activities planned there can still take place.

"The number of those who have to leave their homes because of the war in Ukraine continues to rise steadily," says District Administrator Jürgen van der Horst. So far, 1,231 refugees have already been officially registered and accommodated in Waldeck-Frankenberg. Many have been given temporary accommodation privately with relatives or acquaintances. "However, we already have to prepare for further allocations - and are therefore starting preparations in Volkmarsen as a precautionary measure and sounding out further possibilities."

Close exchange between the district and the city
The sports fields A and B, the clubhouse, the garages adjacent to the left of the hall, and the fistball building and grounds in Volkmarsen are exempt from use by the district for housing refugees. According to Mayor Hartmut Linnekugel, these areas can continue to be used by athletes. "Regarding the use of the Nordhessenhalle, we are in close exchange with the district," says the Volkmarsen town hall chief. "The issue is also coordinated accordingly with the municipal bodies."

Long-term rental offers still sought
According to Karl-Friedrich Frese, First District Commissioner of the district, the hall should be set up by mid-April at the latest so that people from Ukraine can then be accommodated there until they can move into longer-term accommodation. "Especially for the longer-term accommodation of these people, we are currently still looking for housing for rent," Frese continued. "Interested parties can submit their rental offers for this purpose via the district's website."

Capacities for 1,000 people
Together with the former tennis hall in Allendorf, where capacities for 300 people have already been created for accommodation, and the Nordhessenhalle, a total of 600 places are thus available so far for short-term accommodation for people from Ukraine. Together with an object rented from a private provider, the district can thus already provide 850 of the envisaged 1,000 places. At present, however, the district is exploring further possibilities to create capacities as a precautionary measure, should an allocation be made by the state of Hesse in the short term.

"The accommodation of the refugees from Ukraine is a responsible task for society as a whole," continues District Administrator Jürgen van der Horst. "We will tackle this together and already thank the cities and municipalities for their good cooperation, as well as all volunteers and all other helpers for their commitment and their great support. We appreciate that very much."