The Initiative for Housing has called on the Government to immediately adopt a law on housing support that should help address the current problem of housing distress. It said the law is ready and has been discussed. The initiative said this in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS) and the chairmen of the coalition parties. Along with the letter, the initiative asks Fiala for a joint meeting. The discussion of the proposal was suspended last week due to some contradictions, which members of the government say need to be renegotiated.
“If the law is not approved, we will continue to witness a social situation of deepening poverty, with tens of thousands of children growing up in completely inadequate conditions, which has negative effects on their health, education and life opportunities. It is therefore absolutely crucial that the passage of the Housing Support Bill is among the government’s highest priorities and that the Bill is supported and submitted to the Chamber of Deputies for consideration by the end of May this year,” the Housing Initiative said in its letter.
The government suspended consideration of the bill last week due to persistent contradictions. Industry and Trade Minister Jozef Síkela (STAN) said that the content of the norm would still have to be discussed with local governments. However, according to the initiative, the law is ready and has been discussed in detail with most of the key players from municipalities, regions, social service providers and experts from the social field.
Transport Minister Martin Kupka (ODS) disagreed with the planned creation of some 200 new civil servant positions. However, according to the initiative, the law introduces a very modest number of the necessary network of advisors, counsellors, social workers and workers providing direct support in housing assistance and guarantees, which are currently lacking at the municipal level.
The initiative said in its letter that the adoption of the law would also be a key investment, as it would reduce the costs to the state that housing need creates. The cost of housing distress to public budgets is estimated to exceed four billion crowns a year.
Under the proposal, housing focal points would be established in municipalities with extended jurisdiction. These should provide advice and mediate housing if necessary. They would keep records of people in housing need or at risk of losing their housing. They should also keep records of available housing and check whether housing meets technical and hygiene requirements. It would set up a system of support and guarantees for landlords, i.e. a guarantee of payment of damages or rent. Assistance is also envisaged, and tenants should be attended by social workers.
Regional Development Minister Ivan Bartoš (Piráti) said earlier that the government would eventually approve the law on housing support, if only because of the threat of losing CZK 10 billion from the National Recovery Plan. As long as the proposed changes are well justified and not motivated solely by politics, he is prepared to compromise after the negotiations.
The Housing Initiative brings together 50 non-governmental non-profit organisations, academics and local government representatives. The initiative said last December that the government should adopt the law as soon as possible.
Source: CTK
