Weinheim is fighting against a housing shortage: Social housing in focus!

Weinheim is fighting against a housing shortage: Social housing in focus!

Weinheim is faced with the challenge of creating suitable living space for people with low incomes. The compulsory admission of refugees significantly worsens the situation on the market for affordable housing. In this context, the city administration has developed binding framework conditions for the rental and purchase of houses and apartments in order to avoid structural changes and large investments in the construction or renovation of refugee accommodation. Since 2017, around €15.7 million has been invested in social housing, with a focus on providing refugee accommodation.

Almost six million euros went into the renovation of urban residential buildings. The city currently has around 450 of its own apartments and has tenant naming rights with various housing associations. In addition, “price-reduced apartments” are planned in the GRN area and in the “Allmendäcker” area, as well as the Hildebrandsche Mühle project, in which 80 social housing units are planned.

Progress in housing construction

The city and local council emphasize the urgency of continuing efforts to create affordable housing. A notable project is “Rent to your city”, which has offered 60 apartments in the last year and a half, with 40 people already able to get a roof over their heads. Rentals and purchases must comply with the specified framework conditions decided by the local council. A structured audit process in four steps, including cost estimation and performance audit, was established. The Office for Real Estate Management plans to renovate five to eight apartments from its own portfolio every year, while the local council has to make strategic decisions on renovation areas, such as the “Stahlbad” district in Weststadt.

There are similar challenges in Berlin, where the city has created new living space for refugees at various locations. There are already 126 accommodations for refugees, with more under construction or planned, which are aimed at the regular housing market both temporarily and long-term. For example, container accommodation is being planned in Dahlem, which will offer space for around 260 refugees and will be put into operation in mid-2025.

Projects to support refugees

Other relevant projects include the conversion of the City Hotel Berlin East into accommodation for up to 1,200 refugees, which is also scheduled to be completed by mid-2025. However, there are critical voices here due to the lack of social infrastructure. Another example is the modular accommodation at Britzer Garten in Neukölln, which is intended to offer space for 450 refugees. The construction period is planned from 2025 to 2026, but there are already residents' protests due to a lack of parking spaces and social tensions.

• Flüchtlingsunterkünfte in Berlin:
  • Container-Unterkunft in Dahlem: 260 Plätze, Inbetriebnahme Mitte 2025.
  • City Hotel Berlin East: 1.200 Plätze, Fertigstellung Mitte 2025, kritische Stimmen.
  • Modulare Unterkunft am Britzer Garten: 450 Plätze, Bauzeit 2025-2026, Anwohnerproteste.
• Neues Quartier in Pankow: 61 Wohnungen für 320 Geflüchtete, Umwandlung nach Erstnutzung.
• Unterkünfte an der Berliner Straße 100: 241 Mietwohnungen und 200 Plätze für Geflüchtete.
• Quartier der Vielfalt in Altglienicke: 462 reguläre Mietwohnungen, Fertigstellung November 2023.

The linking of social housing projects in Weinheim and Berlin illustrates the joint efforts of both cities to effectively meet the challenges of finding housing. This requires creative solutions and compliance with established framework conditions in order to meet the needs of citizens - especially refugees.