Sixteen displaced and four domicile socially vulnerable families (52 persons in all) from Leskovac received keys to their new apartments, the construction of which was funded by the European Union.
The building, consisting of 20 housing units, for Social Housing in Supportive Environment in Leskovac is realised as part of the project “Dignified Solutions for Displaced Persons living in Collective Centers or Private Accommodation in Serbia” funded from the European Union IPA 2007 funds and realised in cooperation with the Commissioner for Refugees of the Republic of Serbia and UNHCR.
The total value of the construction works and equipment funded by the EU is EUR 370.000. The municipality of Leskovac donated the land and infrastructure and the project was implemented in cooperation with the NGO Housing Center, UNHCR’s long time implementing partner, specialized in this type of housing construction.
The concept of Social Housing in Supportive Environment, first introduced by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in 2002 and included in the Strategy for Development and Social Protection of the Republic of Serbia, has been assessed as the best and most needed solution for the remaining residents of collective centres. It provides housing for the most vulnerable groups in need of additional support from the local Centres for Social Welfare. To date, SHSE concept has been implemented in 27 municipalities throughout Serbia where a total of 550 units were built.
The beneficiaries of apartments in the Slavko Zlatanovic settlement in Leskovac will hold the right to use the flats as long as they are in a situation of social need. A host family will be among the beneficiaries, whose role will be to act as a link between the residents and the Centre for Social Welfare in Leskovac providing them with necessary additional support.
Serbia currently hosts about 80,000 refugees and 206,000 internally displaced persons from Kosovo. Nearly 4000 of them still live in 40 collective centres.
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