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Hendricks: We can invest even more in the future. Budget of the BMUB grows to 4.07 billion euros

The federal government wants to significantly increase its spending on climate protection and the promotion of affordable housing in the coming year. "This is a key concern for the federal government, but also for me personally," emphasised Federal Minister Barbara Hendricks at the start of the Bundestag debate on her ministry's budget. According to the federal government's draft budget, the budget of the BMUB will grow to over four billion euros next year. Against the backdrop of rising refugee numbers, Hendricks pointed out that the federal government, federal states and municipalities are called upon to create more affordable housing. Significantly more money must be invested in social housing and affordable housing. The largest item in Hendricks' budget is therefore housing benefit, for which an increase of 200 million euros to 730 million euros has been estimated.

According to the draft federal budget for 2016, the overall budget for the BMUB to around 4.07 billion euros. This is around 205 million euros or 5.3 per cent more than in the current year. In addition to the housing allowance, funding for international climate protection projects, for research in the areas of the environment, construction and housing as well as for urban development funding has increased in particular. In addition, the BMUB 859 million over the next three years from the newly launched Future Investment Programme. This money will be used in particular for the national climate protection initiative, model projects for the construction of sustainable student and trainee accommodation, national urban development projects, the refurbishment of municipal facilities and age-appropriate housing.

Hendricks emphasised that there is a need for affordable housing in society as a whole. The influx of refugees is just one reason. Hendricks: "As a state, we have a responsibility to ensure that there is enough affordable housing available for everyone." This is why housing benefit will also be significantly increased from January. Around 590,000 people currently receive housing benefit. More people will be able to benefit from the increase next year. The BMUB assumes that the number of recipients will increase to around 870,000.

The minister put the need for new homes per year at at least 350,000. Hendricks: "It is absolutely clear that we need to invest significantly more money in social housing. I have therefore proposed at least doubling the compensation payments to the federal states totalling 518 million euros per year over the next few years." Hendricks was confident that this could be realised during the parliamentary deliberations on the 2016 budget. The Minister also proposed the temporary and regionalised reintroduction of declining balance depreciation. Hendricks: "We need the commitment of private investors. They should also help to provide rental flats in the affordable segment."

In order to provide additional support to the federal states and local authorities in the provision of refugee accommodation, the international climate protection initiative will play a central role. As part of the International Climate Initiative, investments to protect the climate and biodiversity will be increased by over 75 million euros to more than 338 million euros. Overall, Germany will double its international climate financing by 2020 and provide four billion euros by then.

Source (accessed 14/09/2015): www.bmub.bund.de/.../hendricks-wir-koennen-noch-staerker-in-die-zukunft-investieren/

Keywords:
DE-News, Funding, Climate protection, Resource efficiency, Environmental policy