Project “Research Based Arguments for New Housing Policies in Benefit of All”

Project status: completed

Funded under: Active Citizens Fund Bulgaria

Implemented in: Sofia; town of Sliven – the district of “Nadezhda” and the village of Topolchane as well in the town of Targovishte – “Malcho Malchev” district and the village of Golyamo Novo

Implementation period: 25.09.2019 – 24.04.2022

Project promoter: Habitat Bulgaria

Partner: no

Project summary and results:
The aim of the project was to support the development of adequate municipal and national housing policies and to contribute to the improvement of the housing conditions of vulnerable groups in Bulgaria. Habitat Bulgaria carried out detailed sociological housing needs research in four Roma communities in the the two pilot regions – Sliven and Targovishte. In addition, the current municipal housing policies and practices in the municipalities of Sliven and Targovishte were reviewed. Based on the two research papers, four round tables were initiated to debate with local public institutions about the identified problems and possible solutions on local level. In parallel with that were analysed the national housing regulations and the recommendations for their improvement were addressed to the responsible state institutions. All conclusions and recommendations were discussed at the national conference „Policies for improvement of the housing conditions of vulnerable groups on municipal and national level“, which took place on 14 April 2022 in a hybrid format ( both in-person and online) and attracted nearly 120 participants.
The main results of project work were summarized in the report “Housing conditions in neighbourhoods with a concentration of poverty and policies for their improvement”, which was disseminated to state institutions, all medium and large municipalities and many civil society organisations throughout the country.

The goal-oriented project work brought the housing policies into the attention of municipal administrations and government agencies and encouraged them to consider the implementation of some of the proposed solutions: the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works initiated an amendment to the Spatial Planning Act regarding the regulation of the informal settlements; а legislation deficiency was identified as the social housing was not included in the Social Services Act as a service of general economic interest; the unoccupied housing fund is being already considered by state institutions as an opportunity to provide accommodation for people in housing need e.g. for war refugees from Ukraine. Thanks to the diverse communication campaign and active use of social networks and other information channels, the housing issues have reached a wide audience and are increasingly recognized as an important element for the wellbeing of the Bulgarian society.

More details and products:

In July, 2021 Habitat Bulgaria organized two round tables to present the sociological report „Housing needs and attitudes of families, living in poverty areas in the municipalities Sliven and Targovishte, Bulgaria” (short summary in English). The two events, organized with the support of the pilot munisipalities, were attended by representatives of the municipal administrations, citizens, civil society organizations, other local and national administrations.

The results of the sociological research in Sliven show, that:
• Regarding the basic infrastructure facilities in “Nadezhda” district – only 26,8% of the respondents have a toilet inside their homes and only 33,2% – a bathroom. In the village of Topolchane only 19.3% have a toilet inside their home and 35% have a bathroom;
• Regarding the proper ownership documentation in “Nadezhda” district, only 12.8% of the respondents have any ownership document. Almost three quarters of households do not have any document. In the village of Topolchane 56.9% have some ownership document, while the remaining 43.1% do not have documents or do not know whether they have any;
• In the surveyed communities the concentration of poverty is indeed significant. In the village of Topolchane, where the risk of poverty is the highest, 87.5% of households live with incomes below the national poverty line for the respective year, whilst the specific poverty line is BGN 147. In the “Nadezhda” district the incomes are a bit higher and below the national poverty line live 57% of the neighborhood residents.

In the Municipality of Targovishte we found out that:
• 71% of the respondents in “Malcho Malchev” district and 79% of the respondents in the village of Golyamo Novo declare that they have a notary deed for their home, respectively 15% and 13% have a contract for the purchase of the house, but without a notary deed.Only 13% in the city and 8% in the village do not have any documents or do not know if they have any;
• In order to optimize their costs, the households use different approaches to heating their homes in the winter. The research shows that the differences between the two settlements were not significant. Only 33% in Targovishte and 21% in the village of Golyamo Novo heat all the rooms of the house. The percentage of people who gather to live in one room in the winter are similar – 26% in the city and 30% in the village. Many households heat mainly one room, where they gather during the day, and heat the bedrooms only before bedtime – 26% in Targovishte and 30% in the village of Golyamo Novo;
• The percentage of respondents who would spend money on a major renovation of their current home is quite high. In “Malcho Malchev” district in Targovishte only 15% answered that they have no plans to make improvements, all others plan to set aside funds for either roof repairs (66%), replacement of windows (52%) or completion of additional rooms (42%). In the village of Golyamo Novo the main priorities are roof repairs (62%) and replacement of windows (76%).
Ten infographics were developed to present key results of the sociological survey and promote them in social media and networks.

Ten infographics were developed to present key results of the sociological survey and promote them in social media and networks. You can view the infographics in the gallery below.

In parallel with the sociological survey was carried out a research of the current municipal housing policies and practices for the improvement of the housing conditions in the municipalities of Sliven and Targovishte. The municipal policies’ assessment includes:

Assessment of the municipal strategic and programmatic housing policies’ documentation;
Assessment of the municipal decrees for the management of the municipal housing property;
Assessment of the municipal housing stock;
Assessment of the municipal waiting list for accommodation in municipal housing units;
Assessment of the uninhabited housing stock on the basis of the number of filed declarations for tax exemption for the household waste.

Learn more about both studies here:
Изследване на съществуващите общински политики и практики за подобряване на жилищните условия на ромските общности в община Търговище
Изследване на съществуващите общински политики и практики за подобряване на жилищните условия на уязвими групи в община Сливен

Based on that study were made recommendations for improving the local housing policies and practices. The recommendations were consulted and discussed at round tables with the Municipality of Sliven and the Municipality of Targovishte in order to initiate debate and trigger the mutual collaboration with public authorities and other stakeholders with the common aim to formulate adequate municipal housing policies, programs and regulations.

On April 14th, 2022 Habitat Bulgaria hosted the conference „Policies for improvement of the housing conditions of vulnerable groups on municipal and natiоnal level“. The agenda covered housing related issues on local, national and global level. Habitat Bulgaria raised pressing issues like the fact that Bulgaria still hasn’t adopted a National Housing Strategy, and that there is no unified legislation for the regulation of the public provision of housing. The event took place both in-person at Grand Hotel Astoria, Sofia and online. A total of almost 120 participants joined, amongst them representatives of 4 state institutions, 20 municipal administrations, 24 non-governmental organizations, 3 universities and 8 media..

Opening words gave the deputy-minister at the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works (MRDPW), arch. Stefan Asparuhov, the secretary of the National Council for Cooperation on Ethnics and Integration Issues, Rositsa Ivanova, and Mincho Benov, director of Habitat Bulgaria. Some of the key participants were: arch. Dima Lekova – Acting Director of the Housing Policy Directorate of the MRDPW, Vessela Zvezdanova – Head of the “Strategies and Programs” Department of the MRDPW, eng. Plamen Petrov – expert at the MRDPW, Stefan Radev – Mayor of Sliven Municipality, as well as representatives of a number of municipalities and non-governmental organizations.

Based on the recommendations for improvement of the local housing policies, good practices from other countries with similar profile and strategic directions on European and global level, Habitat Bulgaria presented its recommendations for the national housing policy and regulations. The conference participants agreed upon the idea that, in the first place, it is necessary to adopt a long-term national housing strategy with a horizon up to 2050, with clear vision, priorities and measurable targets set in it, in order to ensure access to quality housing for all. With regard to the Social Services Law, it is important the Bulgarian Government to agree upon establishing of a new service of general economic interest i.e. social housing, for the provision of which the municipalities shall receive compensation from the state.

Watch the full video of the conference here:

The recommendations are included in a summary report “Housing conditions in neighbourhoods with a concentration of poverty and policies for their improvement”, a hard copy of which was distributed to state institutions, medium and large municipalities and civil society organisations throughout the country. The report can be viewed here: Жилищни условия в квартали с концентрация на бедност и политики за тяхното подобряване

See the key recommendations for housing policies and practices here:

Follow the project’s Facebook page: Жилищни политики в България (Housing policies in Bulgaria)

Grant amount: 92 993 EUR

Contact: Mincho Benov
email: benov@hfh.bg
phone: + 359 / 02 983 24 10
address: № 55 „Liuben Karavlov“ str., floor 1,
app. 1, 1142 Sofia
web: www.hfh.bg