In the Czech Republic, social housing is lacking, especially during times of crisis

Brno - There has long been a lack of a social housing network in the Czech Republic designated for people who find themselves at financial rock bottom. Ombudsman Otakar Motejl said today to journalists that many citizens, especially now during the economic crisis, are feeling this acutely. The public defender of rights has long been calling for the establishment of housing for people who temporarily find themselves in financial distress and are at risk of losing their roof over their heads. Municipalities mostly do not have them. Many have privatized the vast majority of their housing stock.
    According to the ombudsman, the state must come up with a solution. He emphasized that it is necessary to create a law on social housing that would define this concept and establish the conditions under which social housing will be provided to people. While the state does provide various social benefits for citizens in distress, that is certainly not enough, Motejl stated.
    By acquiring low-cost housing integrated into the social housing network, the state should cover the difference between the rent paid by people in distress and the established market rent for the property owners.
    According to Motejl, municipalities should also seek solutions. Guidance is provided by a recommendation prepared for them by the Office of the Public Defender of Rights in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior. It includes several examples of successfully functioning social housing in the Czech Republic. Among other things, it mentions the municipality of Prague 5, which has created a network of small apartments for its socially disadvantaged seniors.
    Motejl would consider it reasonable if municipalities slowed down the privatization of apartments. Some should retain them for people in distress and not just as starter apartments for young people, which is the common practice in many parts of the country. Apartments from the social housing network should help people bounce back from financial rock bottom.
    From citizens' initiatives submitted to the public defender of rights, it appears that the highest demand for social housing comes from people who lose their jobs, single mothers, families dependent on social benefits, or seniors in distress.
    "It is clear that the state cannot embark on mass construction of housing for social purposes. However, there are many other ways to create and manage this network. It is already high time for this to happen in the Czech Republic," stated ombudsman representative Jitka Seitlová.