Politicians agreed on 2,250 homes - delivered none

What initially sounds like a success story offers no cause for celebration. The “savings” result from delays in an otherwise ambitious project.

In 2021, politicians at Christiansborg struck a major agreement called the ‘Fund for Mixed Cities.’ As the name suggests, the goal is to ensure everyone can afford to live in major cities, where rising housing prices squeeze the weakest and most vulnerable, such as welfare recipients. The initiative’s idea was partly to help people out of homelessness.

As part of the agreement, 900 million kroner was allocated to a fund that, through state subsidies for construction projects, would ensure 2,250 new social housing units were built at a maximum of 3,500 kroner per month by 2027, reports Politiken.

“A catastrophe”

However, as of this writing, not a single unit has been constructed, according to the Social and Housing Agency.

This has sparked outrage among organizations tasked with helping society’s most vulnerable.

Ask Svejstrup, secretary general of the National Organization for the Homeless, calls it “a catastrophe.” He adds:

“The homelessness reform has failed. The ambition was to get more homeless people into housing, but when there are no homes for the ambition that was agreed upon, it has failed.”

Kira West, chairman of the Council for Socially Disadvantaged, points to the consequences for the homeless.

“We can be ever so skilled at helping citizens, but if there aren’t enough homes they can afford, we’ll never get them out of homelessness.”

“The vulnerable and homeless pay the price”

Politicians write in the agreement that affordable housing is a “prerequisite for lifting people out of homelessness.”

But as mentioned, nothing has really happened in this area. Ask Svejstrup comments:

“Politicians have a habit of agreeing on something and then just assuming it will happen. The agreement was that 2,250 new affordable homes would be built, but nothing has happened, and it’s the vulnerable and homeless who end up paying the price.”

Criticism of minister

He believes responsibility lies with Sophie Hæstorp Andersen, who was lord mayor when the agreement was made and has been social and housing minister since August 29, 2024:

“To put it politely, it’s thought-provoking that she doesn’t use the knowledge she gained as lord mayor of Copenhagen when she becomes the new social and housing minister. Ultimately, I think she’s failing in her responsibility as minister.”

The minister, however, rejects claims to Politiken that she has failed, arguing there’s no “quick-fix” to the problem.

It’s an excuse neither the Unity List nor SF accepts.

“It’s wild that it’s completely stalled. Or perhaps more accurately, never got started,” notes Mads Olsen, housing spokesperson for SF, a viewpoint he shares with his Unity List colleague Søren Egge Rasmussen, who believes Sophie Hæstorp Andersen should have picked up the agreement when she became minister.