An apartment building, funded by UNHCR, intended for IDPs was opened for social housing in supportive environment and the tenants moved into it in Vranje on 18 March, 2008. The apartment building is intended for accommodation of 20 families, as follows: 16 housing units for IDPs and 4 housing units for vulnerable domicile population.

 

Through the construction of this apartment building durable solutions are provided for the most vulnerable IDP families and individuals, as follows: 14 families (48 persons) from collective centers,  2 families from private accommodation (7 persons), 3 families from the socially vulnerable domicile population (12 persons) and one housing unit is intended for “a halfway house”. This refers to old people, single parents and socially vulnerable families who due to health problems, disability or chronic illness of a family member are not able to provide basic living conditions.

 

The scope and the quality of rights from social welfare provided by Vranje municipality has been expanded through the construction of the apartment building. Social housing in supportive environment is in line with the concept of the non-institutional form of social services whose development is foreseen by the Strategy of Social Welfare Development in Serbia. The official opening was attended by the following officials: Mr. Miroljub Stojcic – the mayor of Vranje municipality, Mrs. Angelita Cecere – the head of Programme Section in UNHCR, Mrs. Magda Bellu – the head of INTERSOS mission, Mr. Bojan Andjelkovic – the Assistant Minister of the Labor and Social Policy, Mrs. Verica Mihajlovic-Nikolic – the director of the Center for Social Work in Vranje, Mrs. Ljubljana Rakic – the Regional CRS Coordinator as well as other guests.