After years of struggle, a citizens’ referendum was held on September 26, 2021 to expropriate housing from any private landlord owning over 3,000 units. Despite the fact that almost a quarter of Berliner’s were rendered ineligible to vote due to housing and citizenship status, the referendum passed with 59.1% — a greater percentage of votes than any one political party received in the concurrent elections. It remains unclear whether the referendum’s mandate will be implemented by a bureaucratic regime still very much beholden to corporate interests and the real estate lobby – as well as how Berliners will respond to the current government’s foot dragging. To achieve livable housing for all, here in Europe, we need to go beyond thinking in Eurocentric terms of property and rights. We must understand such policy battles are tied to much deeper struggles over land and belonging.

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