Economy Minister Tarek Al-Wazir (Greens) refers to record funds in the country for social housing. However, the initiatives and the program for more affordable housing in Hesse are not enough for the opposition.
Wiesbaden (dpa/lhe) - The opposition in the Hessian state parliament is calling for better funding programs for affordable housing in the state. "Home ownership is the best protection against skyrocketing rents and is the best old-age provision," said the housing policy spokesman for the FDP parliamentary group, Stefan Naas, on Thursday in the state parliament in Wiesbaden. Unfortunately, fewer and fewer people could fulfill this dream because of the rising costs. Therefore, an improvement in the loan programs and funding conditions of the Economic and Infrastructure Bank (WI-Bank) as the development bank of the state of Hesse is necessary.
The SPD parliamentary group also campaigned for the WI-Bank's housing construction programs to be adapted quickly and effectively. The low retrieval rates clearly showed the lack of attractiveness of the existing subsidy programs for housing construction, said housing policy spokeswoman Elke Barth. "We mustn't just take care of the few who can currently afford to own property in the overpriced metropolitan area." It is more urgent to create the missing affordable housing for tens of thousands of people who want to rent.
The AfD construction expert Dimitri Schulz warned that the WI-Bank offers citizens loans on better terms than private commercial banks to buy their own home, but the money saved has to be repaid with taxes. "From my point of view, the WI-Bank is a design flaw."
Left faction leader Jan Schalauske criticized that there was a lack of affordable rental apartments in Hesse. With more than 60,000 people fleeing the war from the Ukraine to Hesse, the need to create good, affordable housing for everyone has increased even further. Hesse therefore does not need a debate about the interest rates of the WI-Bank for property promotion, but urgently needs an offensive for the construction of 10,000 social housing units per year in public ownership.
Economy Minister Tarek Al-Wazir (Greens) rejected the opposition's criticism and named the country's initiatives. For example, Hesse is planning a climate bonus in the social housing promotion for housing companies or households that build or buy a new house or apartment, depending on the energy standard of the property.
"Our goal is that everyone in Hesse can find a suitable apartment at an affordable price," emphasized the minister. "That's why we're providing record funds for social housing and also support those who earn below certain income limits and want to buy property."
The state government has climate protection firmly in view, because the building sector must become climate-neutral, explained the Green politician. "The planned climate bonus starts right here: Energy efficiency in new buildings or when buying a house will be rewarded." The planned climate bonus will expand the state’s previous rental housing construction and property promotion. This is primarily aimed at households with low and middle incomes.
