Proposal for a Worker Radiation Safety Directive Solicited by Commission

In the heart of Frankenthal, a 24-year-old resident named Lilith Rayburn is grappling with a housing predicament that reflects the city's growing affordable housing crisis.

Lilith, who lives with her parents, has been searching for a suitable place to call her own for years. Her current living conditions have taken a toll on her, with her room featuring holes in the walls due to her frustration from the lack of space. Moreover, her small living conditions have resulted in a physical ailment; Lilith has a hunched back, a consequence of her attic room being too small to stand upright in.

Lilith's plight is not unique. She has applied for approximately 40 to 50 apartments in Frankenthal this year alone, but to no avail. The demand for housing in Frankenthal by 2035 is estimated at 1,872 units, with only 176 already built.

Lilith's situation is further complicated by her role as a caregiver for her heavily disabled father, who is in care level 4. She receives unemployment benefits, and the job center has certified that her current living situation is unsustainable. However, many landlords in Frankenthal refuse to rent to someone from the job center, and an apartment that would be perfect for Lilith remains empty in Frankenthal due to the landlady's refusal to rent to her.

The city of Frankenthal suspended the social quota for two years due to a development project with Deutsche Bauwerte AG. This suspension has resulted in no guaranteed housing for disadvantaged persons, and despite this, the city administration has temporarily stopped requiring that new buildings include social housing units.

The lack of affordable housing for low-income residents in Frankenthal is evident. The city lacks a municipal housing company, and there are no available conversion areas. The housing market activity in recent years has been limited, exacerbating the issue.

However, there is a glimmer of hope. Since April 2025, an alliance in Frankenthal has been formed to address affordable housing issues. The action alliance includes 24 representatives from various entities such as the city administration, city council, housing companies, interest groups, associations, and independent experts. The initiative against rent increases and housing shortages in Frankenthal, existing since April 2025, includes local tenant associations, social welfare organizations, city council members, housing activists, and representatives of affected residents.

The plan to create short-term affordable housing in Frankenthal includes the development of existing housing, conversion, closing building gaps, and introducing a purpose limitation regulation. This initiative, if successfully implemented, could alleviate some of the pressure on Frankenthal's affordable housing market and provide much-needed relief for residents like Lilith Rayburn.