Minister Hubertz Tackles Germany's Housing Crisis: A Fresh Approach with Entrepreneurial Spirit
Hubertz indicates no plans for constructing a home.
The new federal government is aiming high with housing construction. In charge of this mission is the 37-year-old Minister Verena Hubertz, who has already demonstrated her innovative thinking as the founder of "Kitchen Stories." With the housing shortage escalating in Germany, Hubertz aims to make a big impact in one of the country's most pressing issues.
Hubertz spoke with Markus Lanz on ZDF about her plans to create new, affordable social housing and streamline the housing construction process. After a disappointing performance from the previous government in meeting their housing goals, Hubertz is optimistic about tackling the seemingly insurmountable task.
Though Hubertz isn’t ready to set hard targets for the number of apartments to be built, she has already revealed her objectives: reducing bureaucracy by 25%, creating affordable housing with rental prices below €15 per square meter, and cutting the number of employees in her own ministry to 500.
Hubertz's Fresh Approach: Innovation and Efficiency
As a former startup founder, Hubertz is expected to bring a fresh, business-oriented approach to government, streamlining processes, and encouraging innovative solutions in the construction sector. With her appointment, digitalization and de-bureaucratization are high on the agenda, focusing on simplifying approval processes and making them more efficient.
Additionally, a key feature of Hubertz's approach to addressing the housing crisis is a focus on affordability. This involves strategies to reduce construction costs and accelerate permit approvals. There is also speculation about a private equity fund for German infrastructure, which could significantly impact finance and management of housing projects, potentially accelerating timelines and improving efficiency.
A Rocky Road Ahead
However, facing Hubertz are considerable challenges and resistance. The German housing market is marked by high construction costs and lengthy regulatory processes, which hinder the development of affordable housing. Despite this, Hubertz has an optimistic outlook. "I am an optimist, and I want to turn this around," she formulates her goals succinctly.
The road may not be easy, but Hubertz is ready to take the bull by the horns. "We have to get this done together. We only have one shot left for democracy, and it has to hit the mark. I feel the responsibility." With Hubertz's unique perspective, determination, and innovative spirit, the future of housing construction in Germany may be brighter than it seems.
- Hubertz's employment policy as the Minister of Housing, Urban Development, and Construction, emphasizes innovation and efficiency, drawing from her experience as a startup founder, aiming to digitize and de-bureaucratize the construction sector.
- The community policy under Hubertz's administration includes strategies to address Germany's housing crisis, focusing on affordability and reducing construction costs, with a goal of cutting bureaucracy by 25% and creating affordable housing with rental prices below €15 per square meter.
- The industry, finance, and politics sectors eagerly watch as Hubertz's fresh approach unfolds, with potential implications for business, general-news, and the real estate market as speculation mounts about a private equity fund for German infrastructure, which could significantly streamline the finance and management of housing projects.
