We all deserve a great home that allows us to flourish

Renting with Germany’s forever leases in gentrifying Berlin

cribs

In Germany, rental leases for apartments last forever, until the tenant wants to move out. It’s common for people to live for decades in the same rented apartment, and it’s even possible for children to inherit a rental lease when their parents pass on.

We talk to Friederiche, who has been living in the same rented apartment in Berlin for more than 20 years. This was the only home her children knew until they grew up and moved off on their own. Were her apartment placed on the free market, she estimates the landlord could get double or triple rent.

When we asked Friederiche if she knew anyone who was forced to move out of their apartment when they didn’t want to, she couldn’t think of anyone. When we asked if there was something she would change about renting in Germany, she couldn’t come up with anything.

1/3 of renters move every year???

Fixer-Upper

Rental housing in the US is extremely insecure. Per data from the Census Bureau, over the past decade, between one in four and one in five renter households moved every year. The 2013 American Housing Survey (also done by the Census Bureau) found that just over 50% of renters had moved within the past 2 years. But the Census Bureau also reports that we are at “historically low” levels of renters moving. Until this most recent decade, around a third of all renter households moved every year.

We talk to Nick, our organization’s treasurer, who moved 9 or 10 times as a child (so many times he can’t remember exactly how many). He said that if his family had a quality home at a price they could afford, they would never have moved once his entire childhood.

Mitchell-Lama Limited Equity Housing Cooperatives

Cribs

The amazing story of New York State’s most successful affordable housing program!

I interview Dick, a resident of a Mitchell-Lama limited equity housing cooperative. None of my friends know what “limited equity” or “housing cooperative” mean. But don’t let vocab words scare you off! In all of New York City, Mitchell-Lamas are the best places for ordinary people to live. New Yorkers describe getting into a Mitchell-Lama “hitting the jackpot.”

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Half of our episodes will be Fixer-Upper episodes. Not everyone realizes just how desperately our housing system is in need of reform. We talk to people who have been through the worst of our housing system. Our housing system isn’t a dream home; it’s a real fixer-upper. These episodes will explore the problems that need fixing.

The other half will be Cribs episodes: our homage to MTV Cribs. But instead of hearing about the housing of the fabulously wealthy, we’ll be hearing about people who live in fabulous affordable housing programs around the world. Change can be scary, but you’ll be eager to reform our housing system when you hear from people who have benefited from these great programs!