"It's impossible to imagine the cityscape without Fifty-Fifty. There are people from all walks of life who come forward and want to help us."

Fifty-Fifty, who doesn't know it, Düsseldorf's newspaper for the homeless. Hubert Ostendorf is the mastermind, founder, editor and managing director all in one. Almost 30 years ago, he sat down at his kitchen table with his brother Matthäus to create the first issue of Fifty-Fifty. Inspired by the Hamburg counterpart Hinz & Kunz, which he discovered during a visit to northern Germany.

Fifty-Fifty has finally been available digitally since December. Instead of the street newspaper, you buy a kind of postcard that works on the scratch card principle. Hidden under the scratch-off box is a code that you enter online to get digital access to Fifty-Fifty. At the same time, the code is a lottery ticket, or more precisely: a shelter ticket. A play on words with the chance to win sensational prizes that cannot be bought. The main prize is a signed Toten Hosen electric bass, designed by Andi Meurer himself. And on top: 100 cat and toilet illustrations by Helge Schneider.

Mike Litt met Hubert Ostendorf at the Fifty-Fifty Gallery in Eller to talk about Jörg Immendorf's "Oscar for the Homeless" and committed artists such as Katharina Sieverding and Thomas Ruff, as well as the effort it takes to raise enough money year after year for projects such as "Housing First".

Episode 49 with Hubert Ostendorf, mastermind & founder of Fifty-Fifty

Our podcast "Alle Rhein!" is our platform for everyone who makes sure that you are almost constantly surrounded by art, culture and culinary delights in Düsseldorf. Our host Mike Litt talks to his guests about the most exciting projects and finds out what artists, event organizers and other creative people love about their city and where they like to spend their free time. In episode 49, Mike talks to Hubert Ostendorf, founder, editor and managing director of the homeless newspaper Fifty-Fifty.

Our host

Mike Litt was born in the US state of Virginia and lived in Bochum for many years. The globetrotter usually works in Cologne but lives with his family in the beautiful Düsseltal district of Düsseldorf. He is a radio presenter (1Live, WDR 2, DLF Nova), a DJ with Mayday festival experience and an author (‘The loneliest DJ in the world’). For our podcast, he holds fascinating conversations with other people from Düsseldorf’s cultural scene.

Photos: Schwarzchrom
Portrait Mike Litt: [email protected]
Music / Sound: Christian Moster / Mike Litt / Marc Gottschalk