For young parents under 19 – whether they are single parents or a couple – it is often just too much to be able to accept the responsibility required. Quite often they find no support or guidance in their own family. However, they don’t want to leave child-caring and rearing to others. A basic prerequisite for starting a family is a protective roof over your head, where the children can thrive and prosper and develop their own personalities. Many young parents cannot afford this; having a child means enormous changes and lots of questions and problems in their young years. With the project “Nestwärme” Caritas Ost-Württemberg wants to help young mothers and fathers who alone are responsible for children under the age of six.
 
Parents who are still under 18 and young disadvantaged families unable to cope with their situation can receive help on their way through life. One of the first hurdles to be taken is finding somewhere to live. Life with a newborn baby is something quite different, so the day-to-day life has to be rearranged. The main focus is on caring for the whole family. Then the issues work, child care and finances have to be examined carefully. Here there are dedicated volunteers, associations and network partners who are involved in the project to set up a sustainable backup system, and also the Auerbach Foundation provides a financial guarantee for the project.