<p>Cities and municipalities are not very interested in the government program Construction for housing so far.</p>

Prague - Cities and towns in the Czech Republic are currently not very interested in subsidies for social housing from the upcoming government program Construction. According to several mayors, the planned state support is insufficient and the state’s participation should be higher; additionally, the setup is not favorable for small municipalities. Requests for funding are being considered more by larger cities. This was stated by mayors from selected municipalities and towns across all regions to ČTK. According to experts on social issues, the investment program will not solve the situation of people in need, and what is needed is rather a law on social or affordable housing.

The government of Andrej Babiš (ANO) committed in its program statement to prepare a law on social housing. However, it has abandoned this intention and instead chosen the Construction program with subsidies for municipalities. This year, it is supposed to include one billion. The state is to cover one in five apartments, and the remaining four should be financed through loans taken by the municipalities. The Ministry for Regional Development has begun preparing a law on affordable housing, which should be completed by the end of the year. However, the cabinet does not have it in its legislative plan.

Cities and municipalities in the Plzeň Region currently have no interest in the government subsidy program. According to the mayors, higher state support is necessary. Representatives of Central Bohemian towns share the same view.

Among mayors in the Liberec region, the predominant opinion is that the state's participation is too low. Mayor of Prysk, Jan Sviták (Independents for Prysk), believes that the program will not be usable for small municipalities. According to the mayor of Hudlice in the Beroun region, Pavel Hubený (KSCM), smaller municipalities are already indebted due to the construction of water supply systems and other necessities and cannot take on additional loans. "It would certainly be more appropriate to finalize the law on social housing, particularly focusing on starter apartments and homes with care services," Hubený believes.

According to the deputy mayor of Domažlice, Stanislav Antoš (KDU-ČSL), the program will not help much and a better solution would be a law on social housing, which municipalities would provide voluntarily. The new model for building social housing is not viewed favorably even by Mladá Boleslav. "A better solution would likely be the originally intended law on social housing," said spokeswoman for the local magistrate Šárka Charousková.

So far, the subsidy program has not attracted the interest of cities in the Karlovy Vary Region either. Their representatives would prefer to see greater support for municipalities from taxes. Municipalities and towns in the Hradec Králové Region have reservations about the program. Particularly, small municipalities would prefer that the state support the construction of infrastructure for family homes with subsidies and provide land advantageously to municipalities.

Southern Moravian cities are also not very interested in the government grant program. "With average costs of about 1.5 million for the construction of one social apartment, this amounts to six million crowns from the city budget," pointed out Blansko deputy mayor Ivo Polák (ČSSD). According to him, the share of the municipality and the state should be "50 to 50".

Representatives from some cities and municipalities, on the other hand, consider the subsidy program a step in the right direction and a better solution than a law on social housing.

Prague will strive to obtain funds from the program for new apartments. "For the first year, the amount is not very high; we will see how much money this will be in the following years," said councilor for housing Adam Zábranský (Pirates). According to him, a law on social housing would help more than the subsidy program. Ústí nad Labem, Most, Jihlava, and Olomouc are also considering applying for the grant.

City representatives point out that the ministry has not yet published the details of the program and has not put them on the website.

According to experts on social issues and workers from organizations helping people in need, the government subsidy program will not resolve housing crises in the Czech Republic and will not assist the poor. What is needed is a system of social or affordable housing with the support of social workers.