Minister Hubertz Refuses to Set Specific Construction Quotas, Focuses on Efficiency and Affordability
Hubertz deliberates against constructing a residence
Brace yourselves, folks! Get ready for a game-changer in the housing sector. New kid on the block, Minister Verena Hubertz, takes the helm at the Federal Ministry for Housing. She's no ordinary politician. Before diving into the realm of politics, she made waves in the startup world with "Kitchen Stories." Selling the platform for a cool 26 million euros, the 37-year-old could've basked in retirement. But, she's put those coins aside to tackle Germany's dire need for social housing.
With around a million social housing units, the country is a far cry from the four million units in the late '80s. Hubertz isn't deterred by the challenge; instead, she's optimistic, radiating cheer and laughter. But when pressed for numbers, she's firmly against setting specific quotas. "Goals aren't set in stone. We need to be mindful of immigration, demographic changes, and regional needs," she says, choosing to avoid the pitfall that tripped up her predecessors.
Her focus instead is on cutting red tape, with a 25% reduction in bureaucracy, and making housing more affordable. To achieve this, she's slashed her ministry's workforce to 500 employees, including around 2500 subordinate officials.
Navigating the Labyrinth of Regulations
Hubertz breezes through a maze of tricky questions from interviewer Markus Lanz. To many, her confidence is reassuring, but it's a stark contrast to her predecessor, who had to build the ministry from scratch - sans computers! Like her, Clara Geywitz started with enthusiasm, but the harsh reality soon caught up.
But Hubertz is readying herself for the storm. She realizes she has to deliver. The coalition agreement lacks a goal for the number of apartments to be built. But she's not daunted. Instead, she vows to focus on what can quickly drive progress.
Affordable and Efficient Housing
While specific numbers are hard to pin down, economist Matthias Günther thinks rents below 15 euros per square meter in new buildings may be overly ambitious. Günther, head of the Pestel Institute, believes there are ways to achieve more reasonable prices. He suggests cutting corners, where possible, on unnecessary building standards - a move that could slash costs by 25 to 30%.
Despite the challenges, Hubertz is determined. She's spearheading a "construction turbo" initiative, aiming to speed up the housing construction process. The plan will be presented to the federal cabinet before the summer break. Collaboration between different government levels will be key to overcoming the housing crisis. Hubertz hopes that by reducing redundant regulations, working together, and promoting building type E, affordable housing will become a tantalizing reality.
However, many question whether financial support will be enough to stimulate the construction sector in the short term. Economists argue that without a housing construction stimulus program, efforts to tackle the crisis may falter. But, let's be honest, when has democracy ever been easy?
[1] Der Spiegel
[2] ZDF
[3] The Local
Community policy and employment policy are crucial for Minister Verena Hubertz as she steps into the Federal Ministry for Housing, having previously focused on businesses and startups. Her aim is to streamline regulations (policy-and-legislation) in the housing sector to foster efficient and affordable housing, stepping away from the pitfalls experienced by her predecessors.
Minister Hubertz's efforts to tackle Germany's housing crisis involve reducing bureaucracy and enhancing collaboration between government levels. In the realm of politics, she is vigilant about the challenges and debate surrounding her strategies, often requiring tact in navigating the complex general-news landscape.
