Die Linke criticizes government over planned housing allowance cuts

Ines Schwerdtner, chair of the Die Linke party, has criticized the Merz government for planned cuts to housing allowance (Wohngeld) and failures in housing policy. The criticism follows statements from Federal Minister for Housing Verena Hubertz (SPD), who anticipates significant savings in the housing allowance budget.

Projections suggest that by 2027, approximately one-third of current eligible recipients could lose access to the benefit. Schwerdtner warned that these cuts directly impact those at risk of poverty, noting that half of the recipients are retirees. She estimated that over 2.5 million people across roughly 1.2 million households could be affected.

Schwerdtner argued that the cuts could increase the number of people requiring basic social security and potentially drive some into homelessness. To address rising rents and economic pressure, she called for relief for the majority, the expropriation of large rental corporations, and the introduction of a wealth tax.