On 13 April 2016 Mr. Vladimir Cucic, Commissioner for Refugees and Migration of the Republic of Serbia, Mr. Nebojsa Zelenovic, Mayor of City of Šabac, H.E. Michael Davenport, ambassador of Delegation of European Union, representatives of the Center for Social Work Šabac, Housing Center and Initiative for Development and Cooperation officially opened the building for social housing in supportive environment in Sabac and handed over the keys to the beneficiaries.

Living conditions of 29 families from collective centar Varna and 7 families from most vulnerable local population of Šabac will be significantly improved in new apartments.

Social Housing in Supportive Environment building was constructed within the project “Support to the improvement of living conditions of forced migrants and closure of collective centers“, financed by the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia from IPA 2012 pre-accession funds, and financial contribution of Housing Center.

The project aims at enhancing social inclusion of socially vulnerable persons and families of refugees, internally displaced persons and returnees based on the Readmission Agreement accommodated in Collective Center “Varna“ in Šabac and facilitate its closure.

For the purpose of constructing the building, the City of Šabac has provided the land lot on a good-quality location of Kamenjak in Šabac city center, developed urban planning documentation and issued all necessary permits. The Commissariat for Refugees and Migration is coordinating the process of closing the Collective Center “Varna“.
After beneficiary families move in the Center for Social Work “Šabac“ will take over the responsibility of managing the building and provide continuous support in the process of social integration.

The value of construction works and equipping of the building amounts to about EUR 720,000.