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Original Research - Special Collection: Just housing
The garden city as a commons: Social-ethical perspectives on the new housing question
Submitted: 15 May 2024 | Published: 20 November 2024
About the author(s)
Torsten Meireis, Department of Systematic Theology, Ethics and Hermeneutics, Faculty of Theology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Department of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology, Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa; and Centre for Faith and Community, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South AfricaLukas Johrendt, Department of Systematic Theology, Ethics and Hermeneutics, Faculty of Theology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Centre for Faith and Community, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; and Chair of Protestant Theology and Social and Technical Ethics, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Helmut Schmidt Universität and Universität der Bundeswehr Hamburg (HSU/UniBwH), Hamburg, Germany
Abstract
Europe faces a severe shortage in affordable housing. Even though the situation is less dire than in many cities of the Global South, rising rents and real estate prices affect the poorest hardest. Faith-based organisations, especially Christian churches, have monitored and tackled this problem for more than six decades.
Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The paper discusses this issue from a social-ethical perspective featuring the example of Germany. It depicts the role of the churches, scrutinises the causes of the shortage, explains the situation as a problem of justice and presents an urban vision inspired by Christian tradition, namely the garden city as a commons. In a mixed motives approach, it presents concrete policy suggestions to improve the situation.
Keywords
Sustainable Development Goal
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