WABE e.V.

What WABE e.V. does

WABE e.V. — formally 'WABe e.V. Diakonisches Netzwerk Aachen' — is a registered German charitable association (eingetragener Verein) founded in 1985 in Aachen, Germany, that delivers integrated social services to people facing homelessness, long-term unemployment, disability-related exclusion, post-incarceration reintegration, and gender-based crisis. The organization operates a network of four legal entities: WABe e.V. as the parent, WABe-Akazia gGmbH for youth welfare, VIA Integration gGmbH for integration services and organic farming/retail, and DIAWA gGmbH as a recognized inclusion enterprise (Inklusionsunternehmen). The portfolio spans roughly twenty programs across four cities (Aachen, Stolberg, Eschweiler, Alsdorf), including low-threshold contact facilities (Wärmestube, Bahnhofsmission), housing programs (Housing First, supported living, clearing apartments), social retail (Sozialkaufhäuser, BreitSeite second-hand store, Radstation bicycle workshop, creative and recycling workshops), and specialized counseling centers. Approximately 350 employees work across the group.

WABe's business model is a hybrid non-profit structure with three revenue streams: (1) public funding and government contracts from Jobcenter StädteRegion Aachen, Landschaftsverband Rheinland (LVR), and the city of Aachen for employment integration measures (QuB Plus, TSTE, BeTa, Chancen AGH), sheltered housing, and counseling services; (2) social-enterprise retail revenue from second-hand stores, bicycle workshop sales, and organic farm shops (Bioläden, Gut Hebscheid) where goods are sold at low prices to generate earned income and provide supervised employment; and (3) donations and in-kind contributions from individuals, corporate partners (dm, C&A, RWTH Aachen, Bank für Sozialwirtschaft AG, Zonta Club, Kiwanis). Services to beneficiaries are provided at low or no cost; the Wärmestube meal voucher is priced at €4. There is no proprietary technology platform — the operational model is labor-intensive, built on street-level social work, supervised workshops, and in-person counseling.

The go-to-market is community-led: beneficiaries are reached through street-level outreach, low-threshold drop-in facilities, and formal partnerships with municipal authorities, job centers, churches, and other charitable organizations. Distribution is exclusively regional, across the StädteRegion Aachen, with no commercial product channel, no app, no API, and no remote service delivery model. Marketing is primarily via the organization's website, a periodic WABe-Blättchen newsletter, regional press coverage, and community events such as the WABe Weihnachtsmarkt.

Name

WABE e.V.

Legal name

WABe e. V. Diakonisches Netzwerk Aachen

Website

https://wabe-aachen.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

WABE e.V. is a German charitable association founded in 1985 in Aachen that operates an integrated network of social services — including housing, employment integration, counseling, and social retail — for people facing homelessness, long-term unemployment, disability, and crisis across the Aachen region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services & Charity

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Temporary Shelters (624221), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC), Emergency Shelter, Camp Management & Non-Food Items (NFI) (BPAGAAAC), Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH)

Keywords

• Social services network
• Homelessness support
• Employment integration
• Social counseling
• Housing support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Aachen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Funding and Government Contracts: WABe receives ongoing public funding and project contracts from the Jobcenter StädteRegion Aachen, the Landschaftsverband Rheinland (LVR), and the city of Aachen to operate employment integration programs, sheltered housing, and social counseling services.
2. Social Enterprise Retail: Revenue generated through the operation of Sozialkaufhäuser (social thrift stores), second-hand Kaufhaus BreitSeite, Radstation & Radwerkstatt (bicycle workshop/sales), and related retail activities. Goods are sold at low prices to provide employment for long-term unemployed individuals.
3. Donations and Charitable Contributions: WABe receives monetary and in-kind donations from individuals, businesses, and charitable foundations including dm, C&A, Zonta Club Aachen, Kiwanis Club, RWTH, and the Bank für Sozialwirtschaft AG. Donations support specific projects and general operations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

WABE e.V. is a non-profit Diaconal Network that operates low-threshold social services for people experiencing homelessness, long-term unemployment, disability, and social crisis in the Aachen region. Its core offering combines crisis intervention (Wärmestube, Bahnhofsmission, LIANE outreach), supervised employment projects (Sozialkaufhäuser, bike workshop, creative recycling workshops), supported housing (Housing First, assisted living), and specialized counseling, all integrated under a 'Housing, Work, and Counseling' philosophy.

Product overview

WABE e.V. Diakonisches Netzwerk Aachen is a charitable social services network organization, not a technology product company. The organization operates as a multi-subsidiary network comprising WABe e.V. (parent association), WABe-Akazia gGmbH (youth welfare), VIA Integration gGmbH (integration services), and DIAWA gGmbH (inclusion enterprise). The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio of social programs including: crisis intervention services (Wärmestube, Bahnhofsmission, Liane outreach), housing support (Housing First, supported living, clearing apartments), employment integration (social discount stores, bike workshop, creative recycling workshops, various employment measures), specialized counseling (women's counseling, general counseling), and neighborhood projects (Viertel-LAB, Green Steps, flood relief). These programs work together under a 'Wohnen, Arbeiten und Beratung' (housing, work, and counseling) philosophy to support reintegration of people facing homelessness, unemployment, disability, or other social difficulties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BreitSeite: Second-hand department store and employment project combining second-hand goods, books, and upcycling products
• LIANE
• WABe Akazia
• VIA Integration
• DIAWA

Products and services

• Wärmestube (Warming Room) Since 1986, an ultra-low-threshold drop-in center for homeless men and women providing survival support, hot meals, hygiene facilities, counseling, and referral to further assistance. Located at Frère-Roger-Straße 6, Aachen.
• Bahnhofsmission Aachen Station mission providing first contact, emergency supplies, travel assistance, and referral services for people in need at Aachen main train station. Operated in ecumenical partnership with IN VIA Aachen e.V.
• LIANE - Contact Point for Women in Street Sex Work Outreach service for women in street prostitution providing a protection and rest room, intensive relationship work, counseling, and support for improving living conditions near Kaiserplatz, Aachen.
• Sozialkaufhäuser (Social Discount Stores) Second-hand stores in Aachen, Stolberg, and Eschweiler offering affordable goods to people in need while providing employment opportunities for long-term unemployed persons.
• Second-Hand-Kaufhaus BreitSeite Combined second-hand store and book shop opened September 2019 at Kleinkölnstraße 18, Aachen, merging Bandbreite and Seitenweise concepts for employment and customer service excellence.
• Radstation & Radwerkstatt (Bike Station & Workshop) Bicycle station and repair workshop providing employment through bike parking, rental, repair services, and upcycled bicycle products. Located at Bahnhofstraße 22, Aachen.
• Kreativ- & Recyclingwerkstätten (Creative & Recycling Workshops) Workshops in textile, wood, and metal recycling producing upcycled furniture, instruments, and creative goods from discarded materials for employment of long-term unemployed.
• Fachberatungsstellen (Specialized Counseling Centers) Specialized counseling services for women and general counseling for people in difficult social situations, with locations in Aachen, Eschweiler, Stolberg, and Alsdorf.
• Betreutes Wohnen & Housing First Aachen Supported housing programs including immediate apartment placement for homeless individuals and supervised living arrangements for women and other vulnerable populations.
• Beschäftigungsprojekte & Maßnahmen (Employment Integration Programs) Employment integration programs including QuB Plus, TSTE, BeTa, Chancen AGH, and labor market participation measures for long-term unemployed persons.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3,000 people served by Bahnhofsmission alone in 2017; 105 employees at Stolberg Sozialkaufhaus serving ~300 daily customers; approximately 15 of 70 employees hired under Teilhabe-Chancengesetz expected to be permanently retained; ~10 participants transitioned to external employers.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IN VIA Aachen e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 April 2018Since April 2018, WABe e.V. and IN VIA Aachen e.V. jointly operate the Bahnhofsmission Aachen in an ecumenical arrangement — IN VIA representing the Catholic side and WABe the Protestant side. The Bahnhofsmission served over 3,000 people in 2017 and provides emergency assistance, referrals, and low-threshold contact at Aachen Hauptbahnhof.
• Stadt AachencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe city of Aachen provides ongoing support for WABe's facilities (e.g., Radstation, 'Büdchen' outreach at Hauptbahnhof), crisis cooperation during Corona, and flood relief efforts. The Oberbürgermeister and Sozialdezernent routinely attend WABe events.
• Alemannia AachenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial partnership through which VIA Integration gGmbH operates the Alemannia Aachen Fanshop at Kleinkölnstraße 18. The shop employs three people with disabilities and was inaugurated in December 2017. Alemannia provides the brand and retail space; WABe/VIA provides employment for people in integration.
• Caritas-Verband / Franziska-Schervier-StubeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDuring the Corona crisis (March 2020), WABe joined with the Stadt Aachen, Caritas-Verband, and Franziska-Schervier-Stube to form a joint crisis task force, coordinating expanded food distribution and support services for homeless and deprived individuals.
• LF-Werkstätten gGmbHminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction subsidiary that performed extensive renovation and expansion work for WABe's facilities, including the conversion of a former 'Seitenweise' bookshop and 'Bandbreite' second-hand store into the combined 'BreitSeite' location in 2019, and various other facility upgrades.
• Diakonisches Werk der Evangelischen Kirche RWLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWABe e.V. is a member of the Diakonisches Werk der Evangelischen Kirche RWL (Diaconic Association of the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland-Westphalia-Lippha region), providing denominational affiliation, network support, and referral pathways for social welfare services.
• DIAWA gGmbH (Inklusionsunternehmen)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs a subsidiary of WABe, DIAWA gGmbH operates as a recognized inclusion enterprise (anerkanntes Inklusionsunternehmen) providing metal workshop, garden and landscape construction (GaLa-Bau), administrative services, and a construction department, all employing people with disabilities.
• VIA Integration gGmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs a subsidiary of WABe, VIA Integration gGmbH operates organic farms (Gut Hebscheid, Gut Berensberg), organic food shops (Bioladen Aachen Brand, Bioladen und Lieferservice), café operations, the Klömpchensklub im Tivoli, and integration projects. Celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2018.
• WABe Akazia gGmbH (Jugendhilfe)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs a subsidiary of WABe, WABe Akazia gGmbH focuses on youth welfare services (Jugendhilfe), providing child and adolescent support services as part of the broader WABe network. Website: wabe-akazia.de.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Diakonie Deutschland: National Protestant welfare confederation to whose regional body (Diakonisches Werk RWL) WABe belongs. Operates thousands of comparable services nationwide and shapes the federal policy and funding framework in which WABe operates.
• Heilsarmee (Salvation Army) Germany: International Christian welfare organization operating shelters, social stores, and reintegration programs across Germany. Closely comparable to WABe's Wärmestube, second-hand stores, and employment integration projects, with broader national reach.
• Caritas Deutschland: National Catholic welfare confederation with similar service lines (homelessness, women's shelters, employment, refugee support) executed at greater scale across Germany. Sets standards and competes for federal funding that indirectly shapes WABe's operating environment.

Regional players

• Berliner Stadtmission: Major Protestant diaconal social services provider in Berlin offering Kältebus, Bahnhofsmission, shelter, and employment projects. Highly comparable operating model to WABe's Wärmestube, Bahnhofsmission, and Sozialkaufhäuser, but serves a different German metropolitan market.

Direct peers

• SKM Aachen - Katholischer Verein für soziale Dienste: Catholic social services association active in the Aachen region, providing homelessness support, prison aftercare, and addiction services. Directly comparable in mission and target population to WABe's Haftentlassene and Wohnungslose programs.
• IN VIA Aachen e.V. Catholic social welfare organization and WABe's co-trustee of the Bahnhofsmission Aachen. Operates overlapping services for women in social difficulty, youth mobility, and employment integration, making it a direct operational partner and peer in the same regional market.
• Aachener Tafel e.V. Local food bank in Aachen that, like WABe's Wärmestube and Sozialkaufhäuser, addresses food insecurity for low-income populations in the same region. Operates with a similar volunteer and donation-supported model.
• Diakonisches Werk im Kirchenkreis Aachen e.V. Regional Protestant diaconal association previously co-running the Bahnhofsmission with WABe. Continues to provide counseling, family support, and homelessness services in the same region, sharing the same denominational network and competing for LVR and municipal funding.
• Caritasverband für die Regionen Aachen und Mönchengladbach: Regional Caritas association operating in the same StädteRegion Aachen, providing comparable social services (homelessness support, women's shelters, employment integration, refugee aid, counseling). It is the principal Catholic welfare counterpart to WABe's Protestant network and competes for the same municipal and LVR contracts.

Others

• Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Wohnungslosenhilfe (BAG W): National umbrella association of homelessness service providers in Germany, of which WABe-affiliated entities are members. Not a direct competitor but the dominant sector coordinator influencing funding, standards, and best-practice adoption relevant to WABe's housing-first and shelter work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wabe-e-v-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WABE e.V.