site.btaHabitat for Humanity Bulgaria Demands State, Municipalities to Start Solving Housing Problems

Habitat for Humanity Bulgaria Demands State, Municipalities to Start Solving Housing Problems

Sofia, October 12 (BTA) - The Bulgarian chapter of the international organization Habitat for Humanity demands that the State and municipalities become engaged in solving the housing problems across the country, the organization said Thursday.

Hundreds of thousands of people in this country are living in conditions well below the minimal housing standards. Close to 395,000 share a room with two or more people in dilapidated dwellings, often built with whatever materials are at hand. The organization notes that the bad housing conditions lead to social and economic exclusion of residents. The State and municipalities must allocate resources for solving these problems. There is also an urgent need for a package of measures aimed at guaranteeing these people's right to live with dignity, the NGO said.

Habitat for Humanity Bulgaria offers the Government to set aside targeted funding from next year's budget to implement various packages of measures under the action plan of the National Strategy for Roma Integration's housing conditions priority.

The organization demands that the two categories are introduced into the Municipal Property Act: urgent need of housing and social housing, which would allow for the provision of access to housing on a local level.

Another proposal made by the NGO is to introduce a housing mediator or assistant as a new social service, which would help consult and support families in the process of applying for municipal housing, getting construction permits, improving the safety of their dwellings, etc.