New dormitory opened in Kassel: A glimmer of hope for students!

New dormitory opened in Kassel: A glimmer of hope for students!

The newly converted dormitory at Wolfhager Straße 10 in Kassel opened today. The restructuring, which has been in the works since 2019, accelerated due to challenges such as the pandemic, the energy crisis, inflation and staff shortages. The original construction costs of 2.2 million euros doubled to 5 million euros, resulting in a price of 125,000 euros per dormitory place. The inauguration of the new residential complex took place in the presence of Hesse's Economics Minister Kaweh Mansoori and Science Minister Timon Gremmels.

The key goal of this construction project is to create affordable housing for students. Prof. Dr. Ute Clement, President of the University of Kassel, emphasizes that such offers are crucial to increasing the attractiveness of the university. “Decisions about studying should not depend on the question of housing,” she says. In particular, 138 students, around half of them from abroad, now find a home in the new dormitory.

Matthias Anbuhl, chairman of the board of the German Student Union, is calling for an increase in the flat-rate housing allowance for BAföG and an adjustment to the housing support guidelines in Hesse. The financing structure for the renovation included a state grant of 640,000 euros, 390,000 euros in KfW funding and a low-interest WIBank loan of 1.6 million euros. The managing director of the student union, Christa Ambrosius, expressed gratitude for the support, but pointed out the significant cost increases that accompanied the construction.

Challenges in housing construction

The challenges that lie in housing for students are not new. Demand for affordable housing remains high even during and after the pandemic, like that German Student Union confirmed. In many large cities, young people compete for housing that is often not affordable. Lower-income students in particular are dependent on housing that is below the BAföG housing allowance of 325 euros.

“The federal government’s bridging aid has shown that many students lived in structural poverty before the pandemic,” said DSW General Secretary Achim Meyer auf der Heyde. According to information, the average rent in DSW dormitories is 256 euros per month. Despite the increase in state-funded study places by 45% since 2007, the number of subsidized dormitory places has only increased by 8%, which represents a clear imbalance in the supply of housing.

Political measures and future outlook

In order to improve the situation for students, the federal government launched the special “Young Living” program. This supports the construction of new dormitories. In the 2023 program year, 500 million euros were made available for this purpose. The financial aid should be provided in cooperation with the federal states, which can also develop their own funding programs.

In this way, the number of dormitory places can be increased, which is essential for students and trainees. Klara Geywitz, Federal Construction Minister, emphasizes that young people should not worry about affordable housing during their training. By 2028, the federal government will provide a total of 21.65 billion euros to promote the creation of new social housing.

Mayor Nicole Maisch praises the decision for the dormitory on Wolfhager Strasse as a positive signal for the northern city. Ambrosius plans to improve the quality of the area through more green spaces, but sees financial and regulatory hurdles that need to be overcome. The courtyard, currently used as a parking lot, is also on the list for a planned redevelopment.