Description
The project addresses the challenges faced by many low-income Roma families living in substandard, unhygienic, unsafe and illegal housing conditions due to poverty, financial insecurity and lack of education. The project aims to support them through the new social service of a “housing mediator” consulting them on affordable and efficient housing improvements. First, the housing needs of the Roma in the cities of Sofia, Kyustendil and Targovishte will be analyzed. Then the methodology for the training of housing mediators will be developed. Second, 15 mediators will be trained during a 3-day course in Sofia. Next, mediators will be selected to consult over 270 families in the pilot 6-month period. Finally, 90 people from the 3 cities will be trained house and family budget management during 2 one-day courses. The project will benefit the target group of Roma people helping them improve their housing conditions. The partners will help the grassroots implementation of the project.
Summary of project results
The project addressed the challenges faced by many low-income Roma families living in substandard, unhygienic, unsafe and illegal housing conditions due to poverty, financial insecurity and lack of education. A community service was created for the first time in Bulgaria, i.e. a housing mediator, thus complementing the services for families at risk of poverty who live in substandard conditions. The trained housing mediators visited and consulted 287 families in the 3 pilot areas (Iztok neighbourhood in Targovishte, Kyustendil and Fakulteta neighbourhood in Sofia) and more than half of the families took steps to improve their living conditions. The housing mediator service was organized, a job description and a methodology was prepared. Training curricula and materials for housing mediators were created. The pilot service can be used in other areas for similar target groups. The participation of the partner organizations helped the successful project implementation.
Summary of bilateral results