Ease the Burden: Simplify the Housing Hunt for Families - Alleviating the strain faced by families in search of accommodations
Reducing Housing Strains for Families: Green Parliament Coalition Proposes Measures
In a bid to alleviate the strains faced by families during their housing search, the Green state parliamentary fraction proposed several measures. These plans focus onstreamlining processes, increasing the housing stock, and supporting specific demographic groups.
According to family policy spokeswoman Lisette Stuppy, increased support is needed for those who wish to share their homes or downsize, particularly in rural areas. She emphasized the need for easier renovation processes and advocated for the creation of a nationwide rent cap to tackle the tense housing situation in urban areas and metropolises.
The Green fraction and the city of Mainz, represented by social policy spokesman Daniel Köbler (Mayor of Mainz), are pushing for increased funding for social housing, with an annual commitment of 350 million euros on social housing promotion compared to 2024 in the current budget. This increased funding is seen as a solid foundation for more affordable housing options.
Köbler also advocated for prolonged social housing agreements to ensure long-term affordability. However, he stressed the importance of careful monitoring to assess the development's progress.
According to Minister of Housing Doris Ahnen (SPD), self-used residential property is a crucial and popular means of providing families with children with suitable housing. She highlighted efforts to support households with low and medium incomes in the purchase and construction of self-used residential properties.
The availability of apartments with at least four rooms has remained relatively stable statewide since 2019. On average, urban areas have approximately 318 suitable apartments per 100,000 inhabitants, with rural areas reporting around 404. As of now, there are around 12,000 apartments with social housing bonds, with around 7,000 of them located in cities.
As part of its broader housing reform agenda, the German government, backed by initiatives from the Green fraction, Doris Ahnen, and the city of Mainz, is focusing on increasing the housing stock, streamlining processes, and supporting specific demographic groups. The government is planning to reform the Federal Building Code, introduce new tax incentives, simplify building standards, expand public investment, and expedite permitting procedures. Additionally, the government is supporting youth and vulnerable populations through programs like "JUGEND STÄRKEN" and communal and intergenerational living arrangements. These combined efforts aim to create more affordable, accessible, and socially supportive housing for families.
EC countries could benefit from adopting the German government's approach to increasing the housing stock and supporting specific demographic groups, such as vocational training programs for young adults to help them afford their own homes. To enhance their lifestyle and home-and-garden aspirations, families in EC countries might take inspiration from the German government's support for communal and intergenerational living arrangements.
