HOW TO USE SMALL FINANCE RECOURSES FOR BETTERING ROMA HOUSING

HOW TO USE SMALL FINANCE RECOURSESFOR BETTERING ROMA HOUSING

All figures in this presentation are derived from researches: Eagle's Nest Gypsy enclave 1992 - 1994, Deponija slum 1999 - 2003, Gazela slum 2005, Kanjza Horgos Roma village 2006 and Batajnica Roma settlement 2007

Prof. dr Vladimir Macura architect

Regional Initiative

Exploring Opportunities for Improving Housing Microfinance Servicies for Roma

12-13 April 2007, Skopje Republic of Macedonia

HOW TO USE SMALL FINANCE RECOURSES FOR BETTERING ROMA HOUSING

• Adequate housing stands on basic standards defined at Agenda's article 60• Affordable housing is needed both for general society and Roma family

Approach: international and domestic documents

2.

There are set of international and domestic documents that should be in mind when we are talking about Roma housing issue, including finances challenges. These documents are:

International documents Serbian documents

Decade of Roma Inclusion,CoE Recommendations on improving living conditions,

OSCE Action plan - chapter on housingUN definitions on adequate housingUN-HABITAT Agenda - chapters on housing and settlements

Stability Pact - Vienna declaration on informal settlements

Draft of Strategy for Roma inclusionFour Action plans for Roma inclusion - chapter on Action plan on housing

Strategy for poverty reductionGuidelines for improvement and legalization of informal Roma settlements

• Roma house is expanding structure that growths by addition of new premises

• House and yard form Roma living environment in most cases

Main topic: house and yard

3. HOW TO USE SMALL FINANCE RECOURSES FOR BETTERING ROMA HOUSING


• Each type is of great value for their inhabitants (who are under poverty line)

• All three housing types should be supported by society and all stakeholders

Housing types: shack, cottage, and house

4.

shack cottage house

villas are not our topic


• Horizontal moving is relatively easy, vertical could be an exeption

• Authorities, NGOs and families ought to accept and support horizontal moving

Overall goal: better home for all

5.

Our overall goal could be to offer equal chances to each family category, to people living in houses and cottages, as well as to those inhabited in shacks.

House price: few examples

6.

Place and settlement

Material, type of house an floor space in m2

Total market price of the house in EURO

prices of m2 of the house in EURO

Belgrade - Gazela Non building material, Shack, 30 m2

200 - 500 7 - 16

Kanjiza - Horgos Adobe, small cottage, 40 m2

400 700 10 - 19

Kanjiza - "On the street"

Adobe, large house, 100 m2

3500 - 4000 35 - 40

Belgrade - Marinkova bar

Brick and timber, small cottage, 40m2

2500 - 3000 60 - 75

Pirot - Barje Brick and concrete, 50 m2

5000 - 7000 100 - 140


• Different families could pay a different market price for a house

• Price is always in harmony with family’s incom


• Financial means usually define building actions in a year

Financial means: various sources

7.

SourcePersentage of families oriented to source

Loans from broader family, friends, colleagues, neighbors 30%

Savings, but not in bank 20%

Loans from banks if a family's member is employ Less then 5%

Loans from illegal "banks" with 15% rate of interest Less then 5%

Combination of previous sources 40%


• Informal character of most Roma settlement come from this priority

• Roma usualy do not pay their duties for using building land and infrastructure

• Authorities should change legalization and other fees to reach possibilities of poor

Expenses: building is priority

8.

9.

Type Work Material

Family Moba Craftsman Non-build. Recyclable Building

Shack 90 10 00 90 10 00

Cottage 70 20 10 00 30 70

House 50 10 40 00 5 95


Actors in building works and building material

Shack, cottage, and house


• Mistakes could be avoid by adequate knowledge and professional assistance

• All actors should build their capacities for adequate self-help housing

Self-help building: mistakes are often

10.


• Roma who build their skills could work as professionals in further works

• Capacity building of all actors will contribute upgrading of self-help housing

Solving the problem: capacity building

11.


Result: every type of house could be a decent home

12.

• Authorities have to develop all aspects of organized self-help housing

• Roma should be included in this process from very beginning


Thank you on your attention

13.

Vladimir Macura

[email protected]

Business

HOW TO USE SMALL FINANCE RECOURSES FOR BETTERING ROMA HOUSING