Smederevo, October 6, 2011 – Eleven families of displaced, five refugee and four domicile socially vulnerable families (65 individuals) from Smederevo were handed the keys to their apartments, which were funded by the EU.

New housing block consisting of 20 apartments is the second of this kind at this location. Both blocks were built within the same program for social housing in supportive environment in Smederevo and are a part of the Project “Provision of dignified housing solutions to extremely vulnerable refugees and internally displaced persons in Serbia within collective centers or private accommodation in Serbia”, financed by the IPA 2008 fund, and implemented in cooperation with the Commissariat for Refugees of the Republic of Serbia and UNHCR.

Total value of construction work and equipment is 370,000 Euros. The City of Smederevo provided building lot and equipped the location with infrastructure and the works were carried out by Housing center - Center for improving housing conditions for socially vulnerable groups.

The concept of social housing in supportive environments became a part of the Strategy of development of Social Welfare of the Republic of Serbia and is, as such, recognized by EU, UNHCR and the Commissariat for Refugees as the best and most wanted solution for the persons still accommodated within collective centers. Within this concept, housing solutions for the most vulnerable categories in need of additional assistance of local welfare centers are provided. Until today, this concept has been realized within 28 municipalities of Serbia in which more than 590 housing units were constructed.

The beneficiaries of the building in Kovačevićevo will be able to use these apartments for as long as they are in need of social assistance. A host family will live with the beneficiaries and it will be a mediator between the beneficiaries and the Social Welfare Center in Smederevo and in this way it will provide additional assistance to the beneficiaries.

There are 74,500 refugees and 210,000 internally displaced persons from Kosovo and Metohija in Serbia. 3,518 of these people are still accommodated within 42 collective centers.