GEWOBAU Wohnungsgenossenschaft Essen eG is a member-owned housing cooperative based in Essen, Germany. Founded on 11 July 1906, it is described as Essen’s largest housing cooperative and manages around 5,500 homes in the city. Its head office is at Ribbeckstraße 40, 45127 Essen. 349
The cooperative’s principal purpose is to provide members with good-quality housing at reasonable rents. Its work includes managing and maintaining its housing stock, modernising existing buildings and constructing new homes. It offers housing for a range of household types and life circumstances, and members receive a lifetime right of residence. 1214
GEWOBAU also operates housing with services in several Essen neighbourhoods. Depending on the residence, these services can include accessible facilities, shared spaces, on-site social support and leisure or advice programmes. Its projects include housing designed to support independent communal living for people with dementia.11
The organisation’s activities extend beyond housing management to neighbourhood and social initiatives. Its independent WohnLeben Foundation supports children’s and youth projects, neighbourhood activities and people facing social disadvantage in Essen. The cooperative also supports measures such as building modernisation and energy concepts as part of its environmental work. 121315
GEWOBAU is governed through a cooperative structure: members elect representatives, who in turn elect the supervisory board; that board appoints and oversees the executive board. The current executive board members named by the organisation are chair Stephan Klotz and Dr. Eike Klingsch. 24