Financial support

Although what the Open Houses Network has so far achieved has been mostly through voluntary means, in order to ensure continuity in our activities and a future to our work, we need financial support.

The Open Houses Network receives little public funding because it does not fall within a typical category of eligible organisations. Further, what we aim to achieve requires flexibility - we would like to be able to provide all those who come spontaneously to an Open House at night a place to sleep. To demand such flexibility is difficult to reconcile with the bureaucratic requirements of public funding and often leads to a refusal.

It is also very difficult to obtain public money to cover administrative costs (telephone, postage etc...).

Despite this, because we strive not to exclude anyone from our projects, we have decided to ask only for the minimum amount of money from participants.

In particular, we find it very important not to charge Eastern Europeans, especially young people for whom the visa and journey costs alone are dauntingly expensive. At the same time, we hope that those more comfortably off would make a higher contribution rather than view our offers as 'bargains'.

However, because all those involved in our work are volunteers, contributions from those taking part in our projects are insufficient support. We are therefore very grateful for donations from all people favourable to our work and also from organisations and from companies.

Donations are tax-deductible. We will send back a donation-receipt immediately. All donators will be added to our donator-list. If you do not wish your name to be published, please do tell us.

We are always pleased to receive project-related donations.

Presently, we particularly need money for the following:

• the travel expenses of people from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia on the European Craftsmen Exchange;
• in exceptional cases the travel expenses of those from poorer Eastern European countries (for example Moldavia) who wish to take part in workcamps, building weeks and church building weeks;
• the costs incurred by Eastern Europeans as guests in Open Houses.

We would also welcome an offer of a low interest loan. This would enable us to do up in the interiors of group houses (sanitary facilities, heating etc...) more quickly. Loans are secured on the use of the houses.