Hussein: ‘When you have stability in your life, you experience more security. It’s better for children. People get higher education. Fewer dropouts.’ Oslo, Norway
Hussein, a man of Somali background, lives in a social housing block in Oslo with his wife and children. He is deeply troubled by the difficulties of trying to enter the private housing market. In Norway, most of the population owns their homes, and there are few alternative mortgage systems such as let-to-buy. The housing market was previously regulated, but in the early 1980s, the Willoch government deregulated the market, causing house prices to skyrocket.
Using the disposable camera to document his everyday life, Hussein captures the view from his flat, which overlooks a well-known mural in the residential area of Tøyen. The mural depicts Edvard Munch, the Norwegian expressionist painter whose work was long exhibited at the nearby Munch Museum. Unfortunately, the museum became too small and needed upgrades, leading the city council to build a new museum at Bjørvika, another part of the city. As a result, Tøyen lost what was considered the area’s main attraction. To make up for the loss, the council decided to allocate a large sum of money to regenerate the area. However, despite the investment of 141 million Norwegian Kroners (around £500’000) in 2017, NRK news reported an increase in child poverty and youth crime in the area. Hussein sees these issues in the context of housing policies, or the lack thereof: children who move frequently, either as tenants of social housing or renting on the private market, often struggle in school and eventually drop out.
Many people, including Hussein, struggle to get onto the property ladder and secure a stable home. To tackle these problems, Hussein founded Ramaas bolig, an organisation that offers interest-free mortgages following a let-to-buy model. During one of their meetings, Hussein and Anna Ulrikke decided to collaborate on a short film to capture the essence of his mission. On camera, Hussein says: “many vulnerable people need the housing market to change. They need stability. I have personally experienced this and want to do something about it.’