Who we are?
We are students and workers between the ages of 20 and 40 with various skills, including carpentry and sustainable economics. Since the first year, a stable core group has formed and is steadily growing. We are united by our commitment to political and self-organized projects and our love for Eberswalde as a place of movement and creativity. Our work structure has developed over the years: in addition to weekly plenary meetings, there are extra meetings for larger topics, planning weekends, and advise with the first Mietshäusersyndikatsproject in Eberswalde (Ossilie24) and advisors from Berlin.
Our goal …
To live in affordable, de-privatized housing and create a place for people to meet. A non-commercial, openly accessible space covering almost 70 m² is set to enrich Eberswalde. In times of social crisis and polarization, it is particularly important to create places of solidarity.
We build on existing structures …
In this way, we contribute to social activation, education, and networking in the neighborhood. We also want to demonstrate that living spaces can be renovated in an environmentally sustainable manner without producing and consuming everything from scratch. We are currently a group of 12 individuals who have been putting our hearts and souls into this project for over two years and are now eagerly awaiting the start of the practical phase.
What has happened so far …
At the beginning of 2022, some of us became aware of the offer to use the property at Ruhlaer Straße 17 as a “self-help construction project” – in response to protests against ever-rising rents. Shortly afterwards, we founded the group “Auf in die RUH!” (Let’s go to RUH!). In January 2023, the association “RUH.topisch Hausen e.V.” was formed, we gained new members, and began planning. At the beginning of 2024, we submitted a concept paper to the owners, who then agreed to the sale. We have now signed the preliminary agreement, which “reserves” the house for us for one year and allows us to plan. At the beginning of October 2024, we were accepted as a project by the Mietshäusersyndikat (MHS). → More information about the MHS and our legal structure
In February, we signed the purchase agreement. Now, at the end of May 2025, we also have the keys to the house and the first renovation work is beginning. Ruhuu!
Ruh Hausprojekt Eberswalde 