A Social Democrat mayoral candidate in Allerød, Denmark, wants to convert a soon-to-close school into affordable housing reserved for childcare workers and social care assistants as part of a plan to solve the municipality’s staffing crisis. Critics argue the proposal is too slow to make any difference.
Allerød struggles to attract qualified staff
Allerød Municipality in North Zealand faces one of Denmark’s most serious shortages of trained pedagogues. Only 39 percent of its childcare employees are certified, the lowest rate in the entire country according to Statistics Denmark. Nationally, the average is about 51 percent. The shortage means local institutions often rely on temporary or untrained staff to keep services running.
For many professionals, the issue comes down to affordability. Despite relatively stable wages, housing prices in the region have soared in recent years. Like much of Denmark, North Zealand has some of the country’s most expensive real estate, leaving many essential workers priced out. Finding affordable housing in Denmark has become a struggle even for middle-class families, let alone childcare workers and care assistants.
A proposal to turn a school into homes
To address this problem, Miki Dam Larsen from the Social Democrats has suggested that the municipality transform the old Lillevang School in Lillerød into subsidized apartments. The school will eventually merge with another local school, leaving the buildings vacant. The plan would repurpose the existing property into publicly owned housing, and pedagogy and social care staff would be given priority to move in.
According to Larsen, the plan aims to make it possible for public-sector workers to live in the same community they serve. He argues that even though salary improvements have been introduced, they have not been enough to retain or attract qualified staff. The lack of affordable homes continues to push people toward cheaper neighboring municipalities.
Opposition questions the timing
Not everyone supports the idea. The Conservative mayoral candidate, Jørgen Johansen, believes the project would take too long to make a difference. He argues that it could take years before the apartments are ready, while institutions are already under pressure. Instead, he believes the municipality should focus on short-term improvements to wages, working conditions, and training opportunities to attract new professionals faster.
The debate highlights a national challenge. In many Danish municipalities, high housing costs make it difficult to recruit key workers. While local governments can set wage structures and working conditions to some extent, housing affordability remains largely tied to national and regional market trends. Rising prices across Denmark are pushing not just teachers and caregivers, but also young families and first-time homebuyers, out of major municipalities.
Living costs drive workers away
For many current employees, the effect is very personal. Thomas Raagaard, a local pedagogue in Lillerød, rents an apartment he considers expensive but says it was the only realistic option after separating from his partner. He believes that the proposed affordable housing plan could improve quality of life and encourage workers to stay. Many of his colleagues, he says, choose jobs elsewhere simply because of rent prices that swallow too much of their paycheck.
As in other municipalities, the mix of high rent and limited supply has led to a revolving door in childcare institutions. Newly educated pedagogues often commute long distances or move away after a few years once they start families and need more space. This pattern makes retention a persistent challenge and adds pressure to an already tight labor market. For context, Copenhagen housing prices have surged over the last decade, creating ripple effects in nearby suburban areas like Allerød.
Broader social benefits and potential impact
Although the Social Democrat candidate admits his school conversion plan will take time, he insists that the project could bring additional community benefits. By introducing more moderately priced apartments, Allerød could achieve a more diverse housing mix and create a stronger sense of balance between income groups. He maintains that such variation is vital for maintaining a vibrant local community rather than one dominated by high-income households.
At the same time, he argues that every other attempt to fix the recruitment problem has already been tried. Salaries were raised, recruitment campaigns were launched, and cooperation with educational institutions was strengthened. Despite these efforts, the core problem remains affordability. Without the ability to live locally, well-trained staff have little incentive to work in the municipality.
What comes next
The idea reflects a growing debate in Denmark about how to make essential public-service jobs more sustainable in a high-cost housing market. Several municipalities have started exploring similar strategies, from offering housing subsidies to partnerships with non-profit housing associations. Still, such plans are often constrained by local zoning rules and long approval timelines.
Meanwhile, Allerød’s current situation continues to strain its childcare institutions. The coming municipal election could determine whether housing-based incentives become a centerpiece of the local welfare strategy or remain an untested concept. While the political camps disagree on timing, they share one concern: if nothing changes soon, the shortage of trained pedagogues could deepen even further.
Sources and References
- DR – Billige boliger skal løse pædagogkrise i Allerød
- The Danish Dream – An Expat Guide to Renting in Denmark and Find Affordable Housing
- The Danish Dream – Danish Housing Market Too Expensive, Parents Try New Buying Tricks
- The Danish Dream – Copenhagen Housing Prices Surge, Buyers Struggle
