Corona emergency loan - information, criticism and possibilities of protest
Dear fellow students,
we would like to inform you that, as in spring, from October to December, students who are in verifiable financial distress due to the Corona pandemic will have the opportunity to apply for an interest-free loan of 400 euros.
Furthermore, we would like to share with you our criticism of this insufficient support from the authorities and the Studierendenwerk.
And thirdly, we would like to draw your attention once again to the possibility of working together with us to improve the social conditions of students and the financing of the universities!
Information of the Studierendenwerk about the loan:
Students at Hamburg universities who are in a proven financial emergency due to the Corona Pandemic can apply for an interest-free loan of 400 euros per month online in time for the start of the 2020 winter semester. The loan can be applied for in October, November and December at the Studierendenwerk Hamburg. The Hamburg Relief Fund is designed to provide quick and unbureaucratic support for students and is intended to help cover basic needs that will secure their livelihood.
Eligible to apply are enrolled students of a Hamburg state or state-recognized university. Applications can be submitted for the current month, from 28.10.2020 for the month of October 2020. Repayment of the loan should begin at the earliest twelve months after the end of the month for which the loan was first granted and should be made in installments of 50 euros per month. Important for BAföG recipients*: The loan is not counted towards the BAföG requirement
Since 28 October, applications can be made here: https://www.studierendenwerk-hamburg.de/das-studierendenwerk-hamburg/informationen-zum-coronavirus/hamburger-corona-notfalldarlehen-fuer-studierende
Important: Applications should be submitted complete and legible to ensure fast processing. If you have questions about the application, you can find information on the homepage of the Studierendenwerk in German and English or you can also contact our hotline. Tel. (040) 41902 - 460 (Mon-Fri from 10.00 - 12.00)
Statement of the State Conference on Student Support in Hamburg:
At this point we would like to share our criticism of the loan from the Studierendenwerk with you. First of all, we ask ourselves why the help fund is only provided in the form of loans. A real improvement of the social situation of students (even more so due to the Corona Pandemic) would require a grant without any repayment obligation! Secondly, the loan of 400 Euros is far too tight! Moreover, the criteria for proving the neediness of students are an absolute impertinence.
As LandesAstenKonferenz we have formulated a detailed statement.
Postcard campaign "Social University now!
In the economic, social and cultural crisis, exacerbated by the Covid 19 pandemic, it becomes clear how much higher education and universities have also been restricted in recent years by neoliberal policies. This must change fundamentally NOW!
Therefore we have already started a postcard action in spring. There are still plenty of postcards to pick up at the AStA or the FSR Social Work. Participate in this way in the protest for a social university, good study conditions and a study in social responsibility!
You can find more about the postcard campaign here: https://www.asta.haw-hamburg.de/sozialkampagne.html
Fondest greetings,
your AStA
