Even Progressive Berlin Is Facing a Housing Crisis

Synopsis

Germany's been locked down for most of the year, yet thousands of Berliners protest against the worsening housing crisis exacerbated by the pandemic. The average rent in Berlin has doubled over the last decade, with 85 percent of residents being renters. In January, the local government passed a rent cap that froze 90 percent of rents for five years, but this was repealed in April. Activist Michael Prutz leads a campaign to nationalize properties owned by large real estate corporations, aiming to convert them into public housing. Berlin, known for its leftist politics, sees over 2,000 activists collecting signatures for a referendum this September. Nick Aletherio, a supporter of the expropriation campaign, highlights the unfairness of renters being beholden to profit-driven companies. The urgency of the situation is underscored by the applause from supporters and the music accompanying the protests, as residents demand their right to affordable housing.