"We wouldn't need much to be able to achieve much more"

"The state shall ensure that everyone can live in dignity and has adequate housing." This was not yet written in the constitution when Fondation pour l'accès au logement (FAL) was established in 2009. But at its core, this is the aim of the foundation: to realise the right to housing. An interview with Gilles Hempel and Tom Nilles, Director and Deputy Director of FAL.

Lëtzebuerger Journal: There is a lack of affordable housing, rents are rising and now absorb almost 40 per cent of tenants' disposable income. How do your foundation and your clients experience the current situation on the housing market?

Gilles Hempel: Almost 17 years ago, we started renting private dwellings with AIS (see info box) to make them available to people for a certain period of time so that they could complete their social project, such as completing vocational training, obtaining a truck driving licence or paying off debts. At the time, the aim was for them to be ready for the primary housing market after three, four or five years. Over the years, however, we have realised that more and more people are getting "stuck". Even when both partners have permanent employment contracts – for example, he works in construction and she in the cleaning sector – working couples were finding it increasingly difficult to gain a foothold on the open housing market.

As a result, we decided: We have to do something and build ourselves, because the market doesn't provide affordable housing.