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They voted with PiS. The minister speaks of a „gigantic problem”
From the outset of the efforts to amend the social housing legislation, Poland 2050 has stressed the necessity of allowing the purchase of units within social housing initiatives in smaller towns to combat their population decline, stated Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, the head of the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy.
On Wednesday, the Sejm approved an amendment to the Act on Social Forms of Housing Development and several related laws, increasing the limit on state budget allocations for social housing. By 2030, the Subsidy Fund will be able to receive PLN 10 billion, which will facilitate the restoration of up to 75,000 vacant municipal structures. Prior to the final vote, the Sejm endorsed a few minority proposals and the „Poland 2050” amendment, which preserves the rights of tenants in social housing initiatives (SIM) and social housing associations (TBS) in cities with populations under 100,000. The Law and Justice party (PiS) supported the „Poland 2050” amendment, while the Left, Polish People's Party (PSL), and Civic Platform (PO) opposed it.
Read also: They voted with PiS and Konfederacja. What is this bill about?
The Minister addresses a „gigantic problem”
According to Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, Minister of Funds and Regional Policy, this situation aligns with the coalition agreement. She believes that previously, members of both coalition and opposition parties have often voted together.
„Our proposal regarding the depoliticization of state-owned enterprises was denied by votes from the Civic Platform and the Law and Justice party. Conversely, the reduction of health insurance contributions for entrepreneurs was obstructed by parliament members from the Left and the Law and Justice party,” she remarked.
The head of the Ministry of Family, Housing, and Rural Development highlighted that Poland 2050 had previously voiced a different opinion on some aspects of the draft amendment during government discussions. „We collectively agreed to collaborate on the final version of the bill in the Sejm,” she stated. The Minister underscored that the minority motion proposed by Poland 2050 was a response to the requirements of local Poland. „In smaller towns, we face a significant issue of growing depopulation. Social housing should help address this and motivate young people to remain and settle in smaller towns. Therefore, it is crucial to maintain the current opportunity for property acquisition in towns with fewer than 100,000 inhabitants – I stress – on a commercial basis, while reinvesting the funds obtained back into social housing. The claim that this constitutes a sale of municipal property is unfounded,” asserted Pełczyńska-Nałęcz.
„It was not met with understanding, which is incomprehensible to me”
The Minister pointed out that from 2018 to 2023, the population of Poland’s five largest cities grew by a total of half a million, whereas during the same duration, 1.3 million residents departed from smaller cities. „Local government representatives from smaller towns recognize this issue most acutely, which is why they advocated for the preservation of property ownership rights. I presented these arguments and data in meetings with the Council of Ministers – I remind you that I am also responsible for regional policy. However, this was not received with understanding, which I find perplexing,” she noted.
The Minister also commented on the amendment supported by Polska 2050 and the Law and Justice party (PiS), which eliminated the provision from the draft amendment that repealed the nationwide standard for parking spaces specified in the so-called special housing act. Pełczyńska described this as a „pro-developer insertion” into the Social Housing Act. „MPs from Polska 2050 explicitly addressed this in parliamentary committee meetings. They indicated that this change would result in chaos as developers would not provide the necessary number of parking spaces. The regulation did state that local governments would establish the standards themselves, but we know well that this has not always been the case. Developers must be obliged to construct parking spaces because people own cars; it is the most evident thing in the world,” she asserted.
Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz Marcin Obara/PAPNew ministry of housing?
Pełczyńska-Nałęcz addressed media speculation regarding the proposal to establish a distinct ministry dedicated to housing. „That's an idea from the Left, but we oppose it. We either create a smaller government or we establish more ministries. We won't resolve the housing challenges faced by Poles by creating a new ministry and additional positions. However, it is worthwhile to centralize housing policy responsibilities in one place, and the Ministry of Finance and Regional Development is ideal for this, as it oversees regional policy,” the minister stated. She also mentioned that discussions regarding the future government are ongoing, and final decisions will be communicated jointly by all coalition parties. The minister emphasized that the primary objective of housing policy should be to enhance housing availability. ”
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