Press Releases
April, 2010
SOCIAL
HOUSING PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN ARMENIA TO TARGET THE HOUSING
NEED OF LOW AND MIDDLE-INCOME ARMENIAN FAMILIES
YEREVAN—April
12, 2010-- A pilot project to address the immense need of
the low and middle income Armenian families for affordable
housing was launched on March 15, 2010 in Yerevan. The initiative,
titled Social Housing Program in Armenia, will be implemented
by a consortium of three Armenian organizations, Social
Housing Foundation, Habitat for Humanity Armenia, and Community
Association Armenia, in partnership with several Dutch organizations
active in the housing sector in the Netherlands, including
Dutch International Guarantees for Housing (DIGH), Habitat
for Humanity International, Woonbron, Housing Plus, WoonFriesland
and Woonbelangen Weidegebied.
The ultimate goal of the project
is to develop institutional foundations for promoting and
developing social housing in Armenia. Social housing refers
to rental or owner occupied housing which is financed through
and managed by non-profit organizations with the aim of
providing affordable, good quality housing to low and middle
income groups and to secure adequate management.
The lack of affordable,
adequate and well-managed housing in Armenia has many negative
social impacts. Un-precedent growth of housing construction
in Armenia during last decade did not address housing needs
of low and middle income families, who can neither purchase
a house themselves, nor can have access to affordable housing
mortgages. These families are the target beneficiaries of
a social housing program proposed by this initiative.
“Lack
of housing is a cause and result of a number of social problems.
Social housing can be a solution to a large number of issues
our society faces today, such as negative demographic changes,
migration, ageing population, homelessness and poverty,”
says Ara Nazinyan, the Executive Director of Social Housing
Foundation.
“The
project is to be piloted in municipalities in the regions
of Tavush and Syunik, and in Yerevan. These regions and
municipalities are selected upon their severe housing problems.
The target groups and direct beneficiaries are low and middle
income groups that benefit from social housing, as well
as local municipalities, state and public organizations,
involved in social housing. The program will further promote
public-private partnership and engage potential investors
in the social development of the regions of the country.
“The
Social Housing Project has a great significance for the
low and middle-income families in Armenia. In our country,
where 96% of the population lives in privately owned housing,
it seems that the housing market is quite developed. However,
the housing prices are so high that owning a house is not
affordable not only for families with low but also for those
with middle income”, says Irina Vanyan, the Executive
Director of Habitat for Humanity Armenia. “Besides,
very few governmental and donor organization programs in
Armenia are aimed to decent, affordable housing provision
to low and middle-income families because of the presence
of over 20,000 extremely vulnerable homeless families that
are the target group for governmental and donor investments.
Therefore, the implementation of the Social Housing Project
in Armenia might definitely be one of the solutions for
the housing need of the low and middle-income families”
adds Ms. Vanyan.
The three year program will focus on setting up
the national social housing organization (NSHO), building
the necessary capacity at the pilot municipalities, developing
projects in social housing, and supporting the efforts of
the national government to develop national strategy and
policy on social housing. The program will be implemented
in close partnership with the central, regional and municipal
governments, with active participation of private sector
and civil society organizations. During the project, several
social housing initiatives and business plans will be developed
by municipalities and NSHO to be implemented with a support
from local and foreign partners and investors.
“There
is much demand internationally for the experience gained
in the Netherlands with providing affordable housing. In
our country about 30% of the total housing stock is managed
by social housing organizations. We have been involved in
exporting this knowledge to several countries already. Our
organization Dutch International Guarantees for Housing
Foundation (DIGH) can also act as a financing party in affordable
housing projects. By guaranteeing loan interest and principal
payments, we aim to achieve a breakthrough in the area of
public housing and stimulate countries with a growth economy.”
says Marie-Odile Zanders, the project leader and regional
coordinator at DIGH. Dick Reinders of Woonbron, an organization
managing a social housing stock of 50.000 units, adds: “It
is important to establish the appropriate organizational
and the business models for the new Armenia social housing
organization. The organization should be sustainable with
a potential to grow. Also, the national and local governments
should realize that public subsidy is necessary to secure
affordable rents for the target groups. “
The Social Housing Program will further strengthen cooperation
and ties between Armenia and the Netherlands and will establish
long-term partnerships between the two nations in the field
of social and affordable housing. The Program is financially
supported by the Social Transformation Program (Matra) of
the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 
About Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity Armenia is a nondenominational Christian charity that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. In Armenia, Habitat for Humanity builds, renovates and repairs houses; offers affordable home-improvement loans; and advocates for affordable housing, all with families in need. Find out more at www.habitat.am.
Since its founding in 1976, Habitat for Humanity International has built nearly 300,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for 1.5 million people.
Contact Details:
Betty Panossian-Ter Sarkissian
Donor Care and Communications Manager
Habitat for Humanity Armenia
(+374 10) 543001, (+374 77) 106 203
bpanossian@habitat.am
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