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Description
The problems of Roma communities are closely related, influence and create the so-called a "vicious" circle. For example, the absence of adequate housing affects employment and, conversely, unemployment has an impact on obtaining housing. Only 30% of land in Roma settlements is owned by the Roma. The main objective of the project is to improve the quality of life of families from marginalized Roma communities in Gemer and Novohrad regions. At the same time to develop their community and kick-start the process of creating new functional neighborhoods. Secondary objectives are to increase the financial literacy, employability and employment of the Roma population involved in the project. The activities of the project are based on combining a program of self-help construction of single-family houses with intensive social work and education. Clients have to go through preparation, financial education and the financial savings phase in order to qualify for microcredit for housing. They will then be assisted in the construction of the house and assistance to municipalities in providing the necessary technical infrastructure for the houses. Part of the process is the job consulting for the clients of the program, which will be provided by the project partner Agentura prace BBSK. Slovenska Sporitelna bank, another important partner in the project, will provide clients of the project with a loan for building materials within the framework of social banking.
Summary of project results
The main goal of the project was aimed at increasing the quality of life of families from marginalized Roma communities in Gemer and Novohrad regions and starting the process of creating new functional neighborhoods in which residents live in legal family homes, work on self-development and development of their community. The main tool was the self-help program of construction of residential houses into personal ownership. The secondary goal was aimed at increasing financial literacy, employability and employment of the inhabitants of the Roma.
The absence of adequate housing affects employment, and conversely, unemployment affects the provision of adequate and legal housing. A low level of education affects how the family manages and cares for the new housing, but also vice versa, insufficient housing conditions cause children to fail in the education system.
The activities of the project were focused on 6 areas, namely: 1. Preparation of clients for self-help construction, 2. Preparation of construction sites of family houses, 3. Self-help construction of family houses, 4. Consultancy, 5. Education of workers in helping professions, 6. Creating partnerships between NGOs and public entities sector.
The impact of the project is felt not only by individuals, but by entire families or communities in the locations where we worked during the implementation of the project. We have entered into partnerships with representatives of municipalities or NGOs that care about solving the social exclusion of vulnerable groups. 5 families have started building a house. 60 people were actively involved in the project activities and it had impacted 163 vulnerable individuals.