Berlin Approves Nearly 5,100 Social Housing Units, Meeting Annual Target for First Time

The city's efforts to combat a shrinking stock of affordable housing draw both praise and criticism over funding strategies and long-term impact.

Berlin's Senate approved applications for nearly 5,100 social housing units in 2024, surpassing its annual target of 5,000 for the first time in years.
This marks a significant increase from 3,492 units approved in 2023 and 1,935 in 2022, reflecting renewed interest from private developers in state subsidies.
Critics, including the Left Party, argue that the reliance on private developers risks losing affordability when social housing restrictions expire after 30 years.
The number of social housing units in Berlin has declined sharply over the past 25 years, with fewer than 100,000 units remaining at the end of 2023.
The Senate acknowledges potential funding challenges if application rates continue to rise, raising questions about prioritization and future strategies.