Places in halls of residence are rare and shared rooms in university towns are becoming more and more expensive. The federal government is now giving 500 million for the construction and renovation of squares. It might even become a billion.
On Thursday, Federal Building Minister Klara Geywitz gave the go-ahead for a 500 million euro program for places in halls of residence for students and trainees. Berlin intends to make the funds available to the federal states in the current year for the construction and renovation of appropriate residential units. The money can now flow after all federal states have signed the necessary administrative agreements, said the SPD politician when visiting a student residence in Berlin.
“500 million euros, that’s a large sum in the construction sector,” said Geywitz. It is a program that can make a difference in the masses. She held out the prospect that there could be another 500 million euros next year: If the program is well received, there is the possibility on the part of the federal government “that we will extend the 500 million again next year, so that a total of one billion will be available Available”. Geywitz spoke of money well invested. Young people should focus on their education and studies and not on finding a place to live.
“This is a good day for 2.9 million students,” said Matthias Anbuhl, Chairman of the Board of the German Student Union (DSW). It is the largest funding program in the area of young living since reunification. The housing market is extremely tight. Evaluations on real estate portals had shown that prices for rooms in shared flats had risen more and more, currently to an average of 458 euros per month. According to DSW, the average rent in student residences is just 267 euros.
Modular building – container accommodation
According to their own statements, the student unions operate around 195,000 places in halls of residence. It is unclear how many new residential units will be built with the 500 million euros. Geywitz and Anbuhl pointed out that the federal states could decide on the use of the funding and invest in both new and existing buildings. New capacities could, for example, be created quickly through so-called modular construction, said Geywitz – this means accommodation in container form, for example. “500 million this year, you can really do something with that,” she added.
According to the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), the federal government is sending a good signal with the program. “If our society needs more skilled workers, then it must also ensure that trainees and students can be mobile and can afford to rent near the training company or their place of study,” said DGB board member Stefan Körzell.
Source: Stern
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