Affordable Intergenerational Housing in Vianden Inaugurated

The Luxembourg Red Cross has announced that the inauguration of the new Aline Mayrisch residence, an intergenerational housing structure of the Luxembourg Red Cross, took place on Tuesday 20 June 2023 in Vianden with Henri Kox, Luxembourg Minister for Housing, present for the occasion.

The residence has a capacity for the accommodation of 108 people.

According to the Luxembourg Red Cross, the lack of affordable housing for the most disadvantaged population groups (low-income families, single-parent families, homeless individuals, refugees and people in socially and economically precarious situations) constitutes a significant challenge. In order to address this issue, the Luxembourg Red Cross has defined a housing axis in the context of its 2030 Strategy. This approach aims to create more affordable housing for vulnerable people and families, and the new Aline Mayrisch residence in Vianden is a concrete illustration of the implementation of this strategy.

“The mission of our organisation is to respond in an agile and efficient way to the housing needs of people who benefit from and are cared for by the services of the various departments of the Red Cross. This notably involves the development of new forms of housing, such as here in Vianden,” emphasised Michel Simonis, Director General of the Luxembourg Red Cross. “This intergenerational structure welcomes different populations under the same roof. This housing project is innovative because it promotes, thanks to common living spaces, the forging of links, mutual aid and solidarity between generations in the same place,” added Michel Simonis.

The residence consists of 52 apartments in total: 44 studios and apartments are intended for the elderly as part of a Help residence for supervised housing and eight other apartments are rented as social housing at affordable prices and intended for families in need. These families have been directed here by the various services of the Red Cross or in collaboration with the social offices and continue to benefit from individual follow-up.

A third wing purchased by the municipality of Vianden will house a local Help care branch and a new relay house. Both structures are managed by the Red Cross. This will reinforce the site’s intergenerational dimension and will allow the residence to be closely integrated into the local life of Vianden. Currently, this building is still in the construction phase.

“The project for the new Aline Mayrisch residence of the Red Cross in Vianden fits perfectly into the national strategy for affordable housing of the Ministry of Housing. I am happy to subsidise this project up to 75%”, underlined Minister Kox. “It is essential to support innovative initiatives like the one being carried out here in Vianden, in order to find solutions for people who encounter difficulties in their search for housing. What is particularly interesting in this project is that it simultaneously strengthens social and intergenerational cohesion.”

The first stone for this new building was laid in October 2020, with first occupation of the social housing from September 2022. The supervised accommodation was first occupied in February 2023 and comprises nine studios and 35 apartments (39 m² - 68 m²) all with balcony or terrace, kitchenette and internal emergency call system. The total living area is of approximately 4,300 m², with the social housing area comprising four apartments with two bedrooms and four apartments with three bedrooms. There are meeting spaces (terraces) on the roof and on the ground floor. The building’s heating system is ecological.