Leipzig activists occupy house for living space against gentrification!

Leipzig activists occupy house for living space against gentrification!

On Wednesday, activists occupied an empty building at Einertstrasse 3 in the Leipzig Neustadt-Neuschönefeld district. The “Leipzig Occupy” group aims to create living space for people who are discriminated against and spaces for repressed initiatives. In their statement, the activists emphasize that they are willing to negotiate with the city and the owners, which suggests a constructive dialogue. This occupation is part of the “Autonomous Occupation Days”, which is intended to draw attention in particular to the problems of rising rents, displacement and gentrification in the east of Leipzig.

The occupiers particularly criticize the upgrading of Eisenbahnstrasse, which places a heavy burden on lower-income residents in particular. An excessive police presence in the area is also seen as problematic. The “Eineck” campaign joins a series of similar activities, including “LuWi71”, “Tiefe3” and “Antishocke”, which all pursue similar goals and try to draw attention to the plight of many people in Leipzig. Loud lvz.de The occupation was supported by various social initiatives.

Rising rents and social injustices

The background to this occupation is frightening: rents in Leipzig have been rising sharply since 2020, while the general cost of living is also increasing. At the same time, funds for social projects are being cut, which reduces support for groups affected by displacement. Owners are terminating rental agreements to offer more expensive apartments, and many properties are undergoing luxury renovations instead of being maintained. This development has particularly serious consequences for certain groups, such as pensioners, single parents, young people and people with disabilities, who often fail in their search for affordable housing.

• Menschen mit geringem Einkommen stehen vor großen Herausforderungen.
• Diskriminierung auf dem Wohnungsmarkt betrifft vor allem Personen ohne gesicherten Aufenthaltstitel oder mit nicht-deutsch klingendem Namen.
• Barrierefreie Wohnungen sind für Menschen mit Behinderungen kaum zu finden.

Gentrification in Leipzig is leading to the displacement of people with low incomes and is increasingly placing the focus on profit rather than on quality of life. Political solutions to these burning problems are rarely considered. The rent control has not had the desired effect, and the city lacks the financial resources to build enough social housing. In this context, the “Autonomous Occupation Days” offer a call for self-help and a way to take action against existing grievances.

Future prospects and demands

The concern of the “Leipzig Occupy” group is clear: apartments should be provided for people instead of for profits. The aim is also to create open spaces that promote social cohesion. The actions such as occupying empty houses, marking vacancies, rent strikes and demonstrations are part of a broader movement that encourages all interested citizens to take action. The autonomous occupation days are open to everyone and do not follow a rigid concept, as flexibility is the focus of the interventions. Everyone who wants to defend themselves against rising rents and the displacement of people is called upon to do so crack.news reported.

In this context, it is to be hoped that the voices of the activists will be heard and that they will not only initiate short-term actions, but can also initiate long-term changes in the housing situation in Leipzig.