Shurgard is partner of Off Road Kids foundation
About the Off Road Kids Foundation
The Off Road Kids Foundation is the only organisation operating across Germany that supports homeless children, teenagers and young adults, as well as those at risk of homelessness.
Since 1993, the foundation has been helping to prevent young people from ending up on the streets and supporting them on their journey towards an independent life.
With streetwork and counselling centres in Berlin, Cologne, Dortmund, Frankfurt and Hamburg, the foundation provides both direct local support and digital solutions to help young people take their first step out of a crisis.
The foundation has helped more than 13,200 young people find safe accommodation, either in long-term shared housing or in a home of their own. It also develops support programmes to help those affected build a more secure future.
Why the foundation’s work is needed
Youth homelessness in Germany is often hidden, but it remains an urgent issue:
- Around 44,000 young people between 14 and 27 in Germany are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
- Many have experienced violence, abuse, neglect or the loss of their family and have fled these difficult circumstances.
- A large number stay temporarily with relatives or friends. However, this does not provide a permanent or secure place to live.
- Past trauma and the resulting mental health challenges can create further instability and make the transition into adulthood even more difficult.
The foundation supports these young people before they fall into long-term homelessness or become permanently dependent on support services.
By combining digital and in-person social work, online counselling and long-term guidance, the foundation helps young people regain stability and build a more positive future.
How Shurgard supports the foundation
Shurgard has supported the foundation as a partner for many years and makes an important contribution to its practical work:
- Financial support: Shurgard’s donations help the foundation expand its services, including the further development of sofahopper.de and its 24/7 chat counselling service.
- Free storage space: Shurgard provides storage space for furniture and essential items at several locations across Germany.
How you can help
The Off Road Kids Foundation is funded through donations and sponsors, so it relies on financial support from companies and individuals.
- Donations: your donation helps expand the foundation’s streetwork and counselling centres, as well as digital support services such as sofahopper.de and its chat counselling service.
- Get involved: companies can support the foundation as partners, for example through donations in kind, by sharing their expertise or by funding innovative projects.
- Raise awareness: share the foundation’s work to help it reach more young people, potential sponsors and donors.
Self-storage at Shurgard