BVB / FREIE VÖHLER: Urgent need for action on social housing!

BVB / FREIE VÖHLER: Urgent need for action on social housing!

At a time when affordable housing is in greater demand than ever, the situation in the Barnim district is becoming increasingly critical. The BVB / FREIE WÄHLER faction in the district council has now called for the need for a comprehensive report on the housing situation in the region. According to Barnim Aktuell, this report is intended to create the basis for the expansion of social and needs-based housing and prepare for the establishment of a district housing association.

The district is facing a variety of challenges: population growth due to immigration, rising rental prices and demographic change are contributing to the shortage of living space. Above all, the need for social housing with rent controls, barrier-free and age-appropriate apartments and student housing is an urgent concern.

Urgent need for action

The planned inventory will look at current rental prices and the available living space. As group leader Péter Vida emphasizes, reliable figures are necessary to create clear, binding plans for social housing. The goal: affordable housing for students, families, seniors and people with disabilities.

“This problem affects us all,” explains Sven Weller, community representative in Schorfheide. He also calls for a transparent survey of the housing stock and plans both new buildings and renovations by 2030. The report is also intended to examine decentralized potential in cities and municipalities. There have already been applications in the past, for example in 2018 for a “funding pot for housing construction”.

Nationwide developments

At the national level, the budget legislature launched the funding program for climate-friendly new buildings in the low-price segment (KNN) in 2024. This program from GDW aims to promote regular affordable housing construction. Although the initiative is endowed with one billion euros for ten years, experts believe that at least three billion euros would be necessary to achieve significant success and limit rent levels.

According to the KNN program, the focus is on creating housing for the general population, after previous funding focused mainly on social housing, while regular “mid-level housing” was left to the market. The net rent in the privately financed housing segment is currently around 18 to 20 euros per square meter - simply unaffordable for many.

Innovative approaches for the future

The research project “Affordable and sustainable construction and living”, which is supported by BBSR, has developed 20 principles to ensure the compatibility of affordable and sustainable construction. The recommendations include, among other things, the compact use of land, standard-lowering measures and a guaranteed life cycle of housing and rental cost affordability.

Sustainable housing should not only be cost-effective but also sustainable. This also includes the integration of renewable energies and a reduced number of vehicle parking spaces in order to create alternative mobility offers. These approaches could make significant contributions to improving the housing situation in Barnim.

In conclusion, it is clear that an active and coordinated approach is required to address the housing challenges. The demands for more social housing and a clear strategy for the future are more relevant than ever.