11 refugee and 2 socially vulnerable, domicile families (totalling 24 persons) from Prijepolje have received the keys to their new housing units the construction of which has been financed by the UNHCR in conjunction with the Fund, “Ana and Vlade Divac.” The value of the construction work performed and the equipment provided amounts to a total of 200,000 euros.  The municipality of Prijepolje has donated the land used in the construction along with the necessary supporting infrastructure. The project has been implemented in cooperation with the Commissariat for Refugees of the Republic of Serbia while the works associated with the undertaking have been conduced by the Housing Centre – Centre for the improvement of housing of socially vulnerable groups, the long time implementing partner of the UNHCR on such projects.

The concept of Social housing in protected conditions had been instituted in the Republic of Serbia for the first time in 2002 by the SDC.

The concept has been incorporated into the Strategy for the development of social protection in the Republic of Serbia and has been deemed as the best and most frequently sought solution for those residents who still live in collective centres, in other words, the most vulnerable category of the citizenry. To date, this concept has been implemented within 27 municipalities throughout the Republic of Serbia and has effectively been responsible for the construction of some 549 housing units. Those who are to utilize the building constructed in the neighbourhood of Ravne will have the right to use these facilities for as long as they remain in a state of social dependence. The family of the concierge of the building will reside on the premises together with the beneficiaries and will serves as the link between the residence themselves and the Centre for Social Work in Prijepolje, providing the residence with supplementary assistance if and when necessary.

The Collective Centre of, “Jabuka,” was opened in 1991 whereupon it provided accommodation for some 200 refugees. This project has not only assisted in the closure of the aforementioned Collective Centre which was closed in 2009, but has also provided a lasting solution to the housing concerns of the remaining number of refugee families and socially vulnerable cases from Prijepolje.