The minister, taking into account the soaring housing costs and the difficulty of finding housing, proceeded to increase the total budget of the program from 10 to 15 million euros for the period 2024-2025 in order to increase the number of beneficiary households from 550 to 700.
By extension, the projected rent expenses were also increased in proportion to the number of members of the beneficiary household, by 50 euros and two new categories of beneficiaries were added:
- families and individuals living in public housing
- families and individuals living in precarious housing conditions.
- In detail, the decision provides:
For a one-person household, rent up to 300 euros per month, from 250 euros.
For a household with two members up to the amount of 350 euros per month, from 300.
For a household with 3 or more members up to the amount of 400 euros per month, from 350.
Household expenses increase by 200 euros and take the form of:
- from 1,000 to 1,200 euros for a single-member household,
- from 1100 to 1300 for a household of two members and
- from 1500 to 1300 for three members.
Same increase and amounts for utility bills.
For the new category of expenses related to repairs and the issuance of energy certificates, in order to address the problem of finding housing in the context of the implementation of the program, the amounts are structured as follows:
- Up to 900 for a single-member household,
- Up to 1,000 for a household of two members and
- Up to 1,200 for three members.
Beneficiaries of the new "Housing and Work for the Homeless" program are:
Families and people hosted in Transitional Homeless Hostels and Dormitories,
Families and individuals registered by the Social Services of the Municipalities as homeless living on the street or in inappropriate accommodation or in unsafe housing conditions.
Women who are accommodated in Hostels for Women Victims of Violence and do not have access to housing,
People who are accommodated in Hostels of Temporary Accommodation of Social Reintegration Units of Certified Treatment Programs for Dependent Persons and do not have access to a residence,
Families and individuals living in housing provided free of charge by a General Government body.
The goal of the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family is to expand the program to 60 municipalities of the country. At the same time, the participation of Ministry of Health agencies active in the prevention, treatment, treatment and social reintegration of people addicted to drugs, alcohol, gambling and any other kind of addictions (OKANA KETHEA) has been foreseen. The goal is the inclusion in subsidized work and training of 40% of the adult beneficiaries (with a mandatory minimum index for the implementing bodies of 30%).
In the new "Housing and Work for the Homeless" program, entertainment expenses for beneficiary households were added:
- up to 30 euros for single-person households and
- up to 50 euros for other categories.
At the same time, the number of social workers for the psychosocial support of the beneficiaries of each project increased. In particular, the coverage by a social worker is reduced to 1 per 15 beneficiary households from 20 in the previous period.
In addition, the program is further enriched by the introduction of the Peer Supporter institution. Following European standards and in order to achieve the maximum activation of the beneficiaries in the program, it is now possible to employ a person with experience of homelessness, the Peer Supporter.
Finally, the possibility of financing up to 2 group sessions per month for the Social Workers employed in the program was added, while the minimum number of beneficiary households was also increased, per financing plan from 10 to 15 households.
