The Rough House

What The Rough House does

Das Rauhe Haus (The Rough House) is a charitable foundation (Stiftung bürgerlichen Rechts) founded in 1833 by Johann Hinrich Wichern, headquartered in Hamburg, Germany. The organization provides comprehensive social welfare services across four main divisions: (1) Kinder- und Jugendhilfe (Child and Youth Welfare) including outpatient assistance, residential living groups, foster care services for approximately 300 foster children, school projects, an inclusive kindergarten (Kita für Alle), early intervention, and specialized trauma programs such as the Pferdezeitprojekt (equine-assisted therapy); (2) Assistenz covering Teilhabe mit Assistenz for people with disabilities, Sozialpsychiatrie (social psychiatry), Arbeit und Qualifizierung (vocational rehabilitation), and Pflege (elderly care in Haus Weinberg facility); (3) Bildung (Education) comprising the Wichern-Schule, the Evangelische Hochschule für Soziale Arbeit & Diakonie (university of applied sciences), the Evangelische Berufsschule für Pflege (vocational nursing school), and the DFA Diakonische Fort- und Weiterbildungsakademie (continuing education academy jointly operated with Diakonisches Werk Hamburg since 2016); and (4) cultural offerings including the Klabauter Theater, Hamburg's only inclusive private stage. The foundation operates across multiple Hamburg districts (Horn, Billstedt, Altona, Wandsbek, Alstertal, Barmbek) and extends services into Schleswig-Holstein.

The organization's technology stack is minimal and operational rather than differentiated: it uses Eye-Able software for website accessibility, Matomo for web analytics, and Meta Pixel for donation campaign tracking. The core "technology" is the delivery of human social services through its network of facilities, educational institutions, and community-based programs. From a business model perspective, Das Rauhe Haus operates as a public-sector-funded social services provider with three revenue streams: (1) public funding and contracts from the city of Hamburg and government bodies for child welfare, disability assistance, psychiatric care, and elderly care; (2) tuition and educational funding from its three educational institutions; and (3) charitable donations processed through Bank für Sozialwirtschaft AG for projects where public funds cannot be used. Most services are free at point of use; the only disclosed direct pricing is the E:du parent support program at 7 Euros per month (coverable by education vouchers). The foundation is led by a two-person executive board (Pastor Dr. Andreas Theurich as Vorsteher and Sabine Korb-Chrosch as Commercial Director) and operates as part of the Diakonie network while remaining an independent legal entity.

Name

The Rough House

Legal name

Stiftung Das Rauhe Haus

Website

https://rauheshaus.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1833

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Das Rauhe Haus is a Hamburg-based charitable foundation founded in 1833 providing integrated social welfare services — child welfare, disability assistance, social psychiatry, elderly care, and education — funded primarily through public contracts with the city of Hamburg, supplemented by donations and educational institution revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social welfare and education services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Individual and Family Services (6241), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Other Residential Care Facilities (623990)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Resident Conduct, Mediation & Community Standards Support (Residential) (EDAEAFAL), Inclusive Group Care & Peer Inclusion Facilitation (HSAAAIAN), Homeless, Foster Care & Highly Mobile Youth Education Services (EDAJAEAG), Specialized Student Support (Foster/Homeless/Migrant/McKinney-Vento) (EDAJAIAJ)

Keywords

• Child welfare services
• Disability assistance
• Social psychiatry support
• Elderly nursing care
• Social work education

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Public Funding and Social Services Contracts: As a charitable foundation (Stiftung) in Germany's social services sector, Das Rauhe Haus receives public funding and contracts from the city of Hamburg and other government bodies for providing child welfare services, assistance for people with disabilities, psychiatric care, and elderly care services.
2. Educational Institution Revenue: The foundation operates educational institutions including the Evangelische Hochschule für Soziale Arbeit & Diakonie (university of applied sciences), Evangelische Berufsschule für Pflege (vocational school), and Wichern-Schule (school), which generate revenue through tuition and government education funding.
3. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The foundation receives donations to support projects where public funds cannot be used, such as the Kinderzeit resilience project and other specialized programs. An online donation tool is provided through Bank für Sozialwirtschaft AG.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Das Rauhe Haus provides comprehensive social welfare services through four divisions: Kinder- und Jugendhilfe (child and youth welfare including outpatient assistance, living groups, school projects, foster care, inclusive kindergarten, early intervention, and the trauma-pedagogical Pferdezeitprojekt); Assistenz (services for people with disabilities, social psychiatry, work and qualification, and elderly nursing care); Bildung (education via Wichern-Schule, university, vocational nursing school, and continuing education academy); and family/immigrant community projects (Stadtteileltern, E:du, Kinderzeit) plus the inclusive Klabauter Theater. The foundation also operates evangelische Berufsschule für Pflege and Evangelische Hochschule für Soziale Arbeit & Diakonie.

Product overview

Das Rauhe Haus (The Rough House) is a German charitable foundation (Stiftung bürgerlichen Rechts) based in Hamburg providing comprehensive social welfare services. The organization operates as a multi-service portfolio rather than a single product, organized into four main divisions: (1) Kinder- und Jugendhilfe (Children and Youth Welfare) offering outpatient assistance, living groups, school projects, foster care, and specialized programs like the Pferdezeitprojekt for trauma therapy; (2) Assistenz (Assistance) including Teilhabe mit Assistenz for disability support, Sozialpsychiatrie for mental health, Arbeit und Qualifizierung for vocational rehabilitation, and Pflege for elderly care; (3) Bildung (Education) comprising the Wichern-Schule, Evangelische Hochschule für Soziale Arbeit & Diakonie (university), Evangelische Berufsschule für Pflege (vocational nursing school), and DFA Diakonische Fort- und Weiterbildungsakademie (continuing education academy); and (4) Cultural offerings including the inclusive Klabauter Theater. The foundation also operates family support projects in eastern Hamburg and various community integration programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kinder- und Jugendhilfe (Children and Youth Welfare) Comprehensive child and youth welfare services for families in Hamburg, including outpatient assistance, residential living groups (Wohngruppen), school projects, support for children with disabilities, inclusive kindergarten (Kita für Alle), early intervention (Frühförderung), and foster care (Pflegeeltern) supervision; serves families in crisis, foster families, and children needing developmental support.
• Teilhabe mit Assistenz (Participation with Assistance) Assistance services enabling people with disabilities to live independently and inclusively, including residential locations, leisure and culture programs, the Büro einfach+genau office service, mobility training, digital participation support, participation in old age programs, and the inclusive Kaufhaus Ran und Gut store.
• Sozialpsychiatrie (Social Psychiatry) Accompaniment services for people with mental illness, including supported housing, family support, dialogue groups (Trialoge), regional meeting points (Treffpunkte), and assisted living outreach services.
• Arbeit und Qualifizierung (Work and Qualification) Vocational rehabilitation services including Anderer Leistungsanbieter (aLa) alternate service provider programs, day support (Tagesförderung), participation in working life context (TaK), and the Projekt Sprungbrett transition project, serving people with disabilities seeking workforce participation.
• Pflege (Care/Nursing - Haus Weinberg) Qualified nursing care and support services for elderly residents at the Haus Weinberg care home, helping residents remain active and supported in old age.
• Wichern-Schule Inclusive secondary school providing education that fosters students' talents and supports their paths into life, including students with and without disabilities.
• Evangelische Hochschule für Soziale Arbeit & Diakonie (Evangelical University of Applied Sciences) University of Applied Sciences combining social work and diaconal studies through participatory, research-oriented teaching and learning; integrates academic theory with practice across the foundation's service areas.
• Evangelische Berufsschule für Pflege (Evangelical Vocational School for Nursing) Vocational school for nursing providing comprehensive professional knowledge and qualifications for prospective nursing staff, operating under government-regulated tuition frameworks.
• DFA Diakonische Fort- und Weiterbildungsakademie (Diaconal Continuing Education Academy) Continuing and further education academy bundling Diakonie Hamburg's training center activities and Das Rauhe Haus's prior continuing education, providing professional development for social workers, nurses, and other care professionals.
• Klabauter Theater Hamburg's only inclusive private theater featuring performances by an ensemble of actors with and without disabilities, providing cultural participation opportunities and inclusive artistic programming.
• Familienprojekte im Hamburger Osten (Family Projects in Eastern Hamburg) Bundle of family and child support projects in eastern Hamburg covering early intervention, family support, and donation-funded initiatives; includes Stadtteileltern neighborhood parents program, E:du parent-child program, Familienteam Billstedt, and Kinderzeit resilience project for immigrant and stressed families.
• Pferdezeitprojekt (Horse Time Project) Trauma-pedagogical project using equine-assisted therapy to provide self-efficacy, responsibility, and closeness experiences for children and youth from exhausted families through animal-assisted interventions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90 foster families supervised in Wandsbek district
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bezirk Hamburg-MittecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Cooperation on the 'Lebenswelten im Dialog' project for religious and cultural sensitivity in social work. The project produced a book and website addressing dialogue between people from different cultural backgrounds and religious beliefs. Bezirk Hamburg-Mitte financed the project and Das Rauhe Haus implemented it.
• Institut für konstruktive Konfliktaustragung und Mediation (ikm)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Third partner in the 'Lebenswelten im Dialog' project, bringing expertise in conflict resolution and mediation. Ikm is present in many neighborhoods with projects to strengthen democratic culture and participation, including within the federal program 'Demokratie leben'.
• Siemens Gamesa Renewable EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020New cooperation enabling employment opportunities for people with disabilities at Siemens Gamesa. The partnership demonstrates 'Gelebte Inklusion' (lived inclusion) within the company.
• Diakonisches Werk HamburgcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Joint founding of Diakonische Fort- und Weiterbildungsakademie gGmbH (DFA) on January 1, 2016, combining all continuing education activities of the Evangelische Berufsschule für Pflege and Diakonisches Werk's training center. This partnership bündelt (bundles) all previous continuing education activities under one entity.
• Elternschule BillstedtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing cooperation for Familienprojekte im Hamburger Osten. Projects are conducted in shared premises at Billstedter Hauptstraße 80. The Familienteam Billstedt is a joint initiative in the area of Frühe Hilfen (early support).
• Pflegekinderdienst WandsbekcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCooperation with the district's foster child services for supervising approximately 90 foster families in Wandsbek district.
• Behörde für Schule, Familie und BerufsausbildungminorOthersFunding body for various family projects including E:du program and Frühe Hilfen initiatives.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bundesvereinigung Lebenshilfe: National federation for disability services, comparable in mission to Das Rauhe Haus's Assistenz/Teilhabe mit Assistenz division. Operates as advocacy umbrella and service provider with broad national scope.
• v. Bodelschwinghsche Stiftungen Bethel: Largest German Diakonie foundation with comprehensive services across disability care, psychiatry, education, and youth welfare. Comparable in mission and service mix, but operates at materially larger national scale.
• Alexianer GmbH: Catholic-affiliated German healthcare and social care group operating hospitals, disability services, psychiatry, and elder care. Comparable in service breadth and confessional welfare orientation, though rooted in Catholic rather than Protestant tradition.

Regional players

• Diakonische Stiftung Wuppertal: Regional Diakonie-affiliated welfare foundation in North Rhine-Westphalia offering comparable child welfare, disability, and elderly services. Similar operating model but in a different German region.

Direct peers

• SOS-Kinderdorf: National nonprofit specializing in foster care, residential youth villages, and family support — directly comparable to Das Rauhe Haus's Kinder- und Jugendhilfe and Pflegekinder services, with national reach that exceeds the Hamburg-only scope.
• Evangelische Stiftung Alsterdorf: Hamburg-based Protestant foundation operating a near-identical portfolio of disability assistance, social psychiatry, education, and elder care. Most direct structural peer in the Hamburg Diakonie ecosystem.
• Stiftung ICP München: Munich-based social welfare foundation operating similar integrated services in child welfare, disability, and education. Comparable in mission and structure as a German Stiftung with multi-divisional portfolio.
• Caritasverband für Hamburg: Catholic counterpart welfare organization operating in the same Hamburg region across child welfare, disability, and elderly care services. Direct competitor for public welfare contracts under an alternative confessional framework.
• Diakonisches Werk Hamburg: Hamburg-based Diakonie welfare association that is both a direct collaboration partner (joint DFA academy since 2016) and the closest operational peer. Provides overlapping social-services portfolio across Hamburg with similar regulatory and funding relationships.
• AWO Hamburg: Workers' Welfare Association Hamburg chapter — secular welfare organization providing child welfare, elderly care, family support, and disability services in the same Hamburg geography. Direct competitor for public contracts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/das-rauhe-haus---wohnhaus

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Rough House