The total cost of the project is 34 million euros. The Moldovan authorities are to contribute €7.3 million. Of this, €1.1 million is in cash, and another €6.2 million is the value of plots or construction in progress and their technical expertise, as well as the development of technical documentation.
This phase of the project runs until 2030 and includes three components. With the allocated funds, more than 450 units of social housing will be constructed in 12 localities in Moldova, which will provide housing for about 1,600 beneficiaries. In addition, student dormitories in 4 localities will be renovated/modernized, which will expand their stock by about 750 places. It is also envisaged to construct (reconstruct) houses for the elderly in different districts of the Republic.
Igor Vieru, public procurement specialist of the National Office for Infrastructure Development “Moldova-Project”, told Logos Press that the search for potential applicants for this project is underway together with local authorities. “We are holding information sessions, explaining technical issues and criteria for selecting participants. The work with the local administrations of Balti, Teleneşti, and Singerei is very productive. They are well prepared and have a clear vision of the project implementation. But specific sites for construction have not yet been identified, as we have to collect a lot of technical documents, analyze them in order to select a future site for construction,” says Igor Vieru.
According to preliminary calculations, social housing will be provided to 1,600 people in need. “These were calculations according to the feasibility study,” notes Igor Vieru. – In reality, there are more people in need of social housing. But based on the limit of the allocated budget, we chose applicants whose housing situation is really critical.
According to the established criteria, people with severe disabilities, persons deprived of care from orphanages (orphans aged 18 to 21), families with at least three minor children, single-parent families with at least two minor children can apply for social housing. As well as families in which at least one member of the family is an employee of a budgetary institution or works in the civil service.
In addition, social housing can be obtained by individuals or families whose monthly income of each member does not exceed the national minimum subsistence level and who meet certain requirements. Applicants cannot own a house or land for construction. Persons who have sold a house in the last five years or have previously received assistance from the state or local public administration, including soft loans for the purchase of housing, are also excluded from the category of recipients. At the same time, a number of categories of citizens have a priority right to receive social housing.
The relevant applications are submitted to the district council, if necessary, to the city council. The lease agreement for social housing is formalized for up to five years; if the conditions of receipt are maintained, this period can be extended.
As for the second and third components of the project, Igor Vieru said that the work is carried out jointly with the ministries of Social Protection and Education. Thus, dormitories No. 4 of the State University and dormitory No. 11 of the Technical University in Chisinau have already been identified for renovation. The projects are currently being developed and the repair works will start next year.
For participation in the project on construction or reconstruction of homes for the elderly, the Accommodation Centers in Balti, Tarnovo (Donduseni district) and Sofia (Drochia district) have already been approved. For them, the design is also currently underway.
The Center for accommodation of persons with disabilities and elderly people in the municipality of Balti (former Veterans’ House) was built in 1981. It consists of four residential blocks, an administrative building and a food block, which are in rather poor technical condition. As part of the rehabilitation project, two residential blocks will be renovated and the work will include comprehensive modernization of the buildings: improving energy efficiency, replacing the roof, interior and exterior finishes, and all utilities.
The construction of social housing in Moldova has been carried out since 2007 in several stages. Over the past period, more than 900 apartments with a total area of more than 44 thousand square meters have already been built in such cities as Chisinau, Glodeni, Criuleni, Calarasi, Briceni and Soroca.
