The government will discuss the proposal for the concept of social housing

Prague - The government is preparing to discuss the proposal for a concept of social housing on Wednesday. This should consist of three levels - crisis housing, social apartments, and affordable apartments. The obligation for municipalities to ensure that a certain percentage of apartments in their area are social apartments has apparently been removed from the original proposal. It was the mandatory share and financing that caused the biggest disputes. The Union of Towns and Municipalities had reservations about the document and had previously requested its revision.
    The concept prepared by the Ministry of Labor includes three levels of housing for those in need. Crisis housing would be a social service for homeless individuals or those in health and life-threatening situations. A social apartment represents simpler housing, primarily for families and homeless individuals. An affordable apartment is standard housing, primarily intended for seniors, disabled individuals, families with children, victims of domestic violence, or young people transitioning from children’s homes.
    The biggest disputes were triggered by the mandatory share of social apartments in the territory of towns and municipalities and the financing. According to the original proposal, the law was supposed to specify how many social apartments municipalities must have at a minimum. According to the authors, five percent appeared as optimal. Minister of Labor Michaela Marksová (ČSSD) previously told ČTK that the law must impose an obligation on municipalities to allocate a portion of apartments in their jurisdiction for social housing. The same opinion is held by the Platform for Social Housing, which brings together non-profit organizations and academics.
    The Platform criticizes the new version of the concept. According to its representatives, the document is vague, lacking municipal obligations and financing. The approach to addressing homelessness is ineffective, as it is based on long-term crisis housing. The Platform also points out that the preparation has fallen behind schedule. A law on social housing is supposed to emerge from the concept. According to original plans, it was to come into effect in January 2017. Its outlines were supposed to be tabled in April last year, and according to this year's expectations, the cabinet was to receive it in June. So far, they have not yet dealt with the concept. The Platform has urged the cabinet to start addressing both the document and the law.
    According to some experts, there is a risk that the law will not be adopted on time. Parliamentary elections are scheduled for the fall of 2017. A few months before them, there is expected to be no will to push through complex issues.