ALTERNATIVE HOUSING SOLUTIONS

In parallel with the support to developing the social housing system and the construction of the new rental housing schemes, SIRP envisaged the implementation of Alternative Housing Solutions. The main objective of this part of the housing component was to point out that, a social housing policy should also be implemented through other forms of housing programmes, in which the state participates to a much lesser degree.

In programme terms, the Alternative Housing Solutions (AHS) were designed to solve the housing needs of socially endangered, poor, marginalized and vulnerable families by using different financial and technical models. In general terms, the AHS were pilot projects realized with the aim of making several applicable models work and become potential models to other municipalities. Their realization was also aimed at applying some of the priority measures included in the Municipal Housing Strategies. The AHS were implemented as projects, each with its own specific objective regarding the upgrading of the housing conditions of a certain targeted population group. Moreover, the objective of the implementation of these projects was the practical testing of the social, economic and organizational effects of the activities and measures stipulated by the Housing Strategies.

The four different AHS identified in the seven municipalities were the following:

• Reconstruction of the existing social housing stock
• Provision of small housing loans
• Improvement of housing conditions in a mixed housing ownership context
• Improvement and regularization of a Roma Settlement

>> Read more below >>

Reconstruction of the existing social housing stock in Čačak

A project of improving 16 housing units located in a ground-floor building was implemented in Čačak. The owner of the housing units was the Centre for Social Welfare (CSW). At the beginning of the project, the units were in very poor condition and lacking indoor toilets. The inhabitants were vulnerable households, beneficiaries of welfare. The overall aim of the project was to establish a mechanism, based on cooperation between the Municipality, the CSW, and the MHA, for repairing, improving, maintaining and managing housing units. An agreement between the MHA and the Centre for Social Work defined their relations both during the reconstruction and the subsequent maintenance and management of these housing units. One of the main tasks was to improve the sanitary situation of all units through the construction of indoor toilets, the modernization of utility installations and the heating system, thermal insulation, etc. The other important activity was the erection of 4 new apartments at the same location. The previous dwellers remained in the renovated housing units, while the new apartments were allocated to other vulnerable households. Additionally, the outside infrastructure was modernized and extended and the terrain landscaped.

Provision of small housing loans in Niš, Pančevo, Stara Pazova and Kragujevac

The Housing Agencies in Pančevo, Niš and Stara Pazova opted for the project of Granting Small Housing Loans to families of refugees, former refugees and the local vulnerable population. The Loans were granted for the purchase of construction materials for the completion of family houses that were either initiated with an existing building permit or undergoing the process of legalization. Moreover, for the loan to be approved, the housing area per household member could not exceed 20 m2, the total cost of construction could not exceed 520 USD/m2 and only standard materials and equipment could be used. The loans were granted through a standardized procedure for application submission, ranking and loan approval in accordance with a rule book specifically prepared for these projects. The size of the loans was limited to 4,000 USD and a mandatory 50% beneficiary participation in carrying out the works was stipulated. 140 loans were granted in Pančevo, Niš, Stara Pazova and Kragujevac. The specificity of the Kragujevac AHS compared to the other cities is reflected in a special form of developing partnership between families and public sector. Namely, loan beneficiaries could apply for larger loans if they wanted to complete the construction of an unfinished floor in their house, in which case they accepted the obligation to rent the completed floor to a family with housing needs for a period of three years.

Improvement of housing conditions in a mixed housing ownership context in Valjevo

The settlement in Djerdapska Street in Valjevo was created some thirty years ago by constructing so-called temporary housing with 34 housing units. The settlement had no sewage system and no water supply. The apartments were built as very modest housing units both in terms of space and utilities. Each apartment had an area of 28 m2 and included a hallway and two rooms but had no running water or bathroom. The faucets located in the yard and the outhouses further contributed to the bad hygienic conditions in the settlement. The apartments were owned by the Municipality and the “Krušik” factory and occupied by employees working at the factory or the municipal administration. Over the years some of the housing units were privatized, while the poorest residents continued to live in municipal housing. Today the settlement in Djerdapska Street includes about 100 residents living in 34 housing units, half of whom are from the Roma nationality.

In order to improve such a bad situation, MHA Valjevo launched the implementation of the AHS project, which began with a series of meetings attended by settlement residents and representatives of the MHA, the Municipality and SIRP. Concurrently with the meetings, a survey was conducted in the settlement. The aim of these activities was to find a solution together with the residents, one that would improve their housing situation in the best way possible and provide basic hygienic and sanitary conditions in the settlement. With expert assistance the professional team prepared the plan and the time schedule for the works and began the implementation.

Regarding the upgrading of the housing units, four of them owned by the Municipality were reconstructed, bathrooms were added, windows and doors were replaced and roofs were repaired. The legal status of the tenants was regulated by renewing existing lease contracts. Favourable housing loans of 1,500-2,500 USD in the form of construction material were provided for the apartment owners. In addition to repaying the loan, these families also had an obligation to participate in the works. Housing loans were awarded under the same conditions as in other municipalities/cities. Regarding the upgrading of the settlement, a secondary water-supply and sewage system was built and all the housing units, regardless of ownership status, were connected to it. Moreover, footpaths were built and the surrounding area was greened.

From the very beginning the project in Valjevo was envisioned as a model for upgrading dilapidated and unhygienic housing stock. The results achieved in this respect are encouraging. The evaluation team that assessed the results of SIRP positively judged the concept and its realization as carried out by MHA Valjevo, which was also the conclusion of the Municipality itself.