Most is demolishing another panel building in Chanov, considering what to do with the estate

Most - The city of Most wants to demolish another panel house in the Chanov housing estate and will apply for a state subsidy. The future of the estate, where predominantly Roma residents live, will be considered by a working group. This was stated to reporters today by Mayor Jan Paparega (ProMOST).

The Chanov housing estate was established in the late 1980s. Residents have destroyed several buildings, and the city has already demolished some buildings years ago. By the end of last year, excavators had demolished two structures.

Block three could go down in the middle of next year. "The demolition costs are estimated at 6.5 million crowns, and the subsidy could cover 70 percent," said Deputy Mayor Marek Hrvol (ProMOST).

According to the city management, the exact number of Chanov residents cannot be determined clearly, as the area is mainly inhabited by Romani families with children. "People want to stay in Chanov, and we must solve the replacement for the housing stock that is disappearing there; that is why we are allocating 15 million crowns in the budget proposal for next year for housing modification. The exact form will emerge after some discussion," Paparega stated.

Almost all parties and movements that ran in the elections in Most had housing policies in their election programs. "It is certainly a problem that troubles Most residents. That is why we want to create a working group to address it," said the mayor.

In Most, there are several so-called excluded locations where the city hall has declared a zone without housing allowances. The general measure to expand this zone to nearly the entire city came into effect in mid-November. "It is very broadly defined and, from my perspective, covers about 90 percent of those risky zones," the mayor told ČTK.

In no-allowance zones, newly arriving residents are not entitled to a housing allowance. The provisions of the law on assistance in material need, which gives this power to municipalities and cities, have their critics, and a group of 17 senators has challenged it in the Constitutional Court. Critics argue that limiting allowance payouts will not help solve the situation and may instead exacerbate unwanted social phenomena. Municipalities contend that it is an effective means to combat the trade in poverty and the creation of ghettos.