Housing – rroma.org https://rroma.org Thu, 24 Sep 2026 15:18:58 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://rroma.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/cropped-greenwheel_large-1-32x32.png Housing – rroma.org https://rroma.org 32 32 Housing Discrimination? https://rroma.org/housing-discrimination/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=housing-discrimination Thu, 24 Sep 2026 15:18:58 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=35147 A young Romni, B.R., raised in child protection, has written an open letter to the mayor of Cluj, Emil Boc, questioning why she and others like her do not receive social housing despite being educated and employed.

B.R. shares her experiences of discrimination and emphasizes that not all Roma should be judged based on the actions of a few, advocating for a more nuanced understanding of her community.

She highlights the need for social housing criteria to be reconsidered, suggesting that those who work and contribute to society should be prioritized over those who perpetuate negative stereotypes.

]]> Cluj and Roma https://rroma.org/cluj-and-roma/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=cluj-and-roma Tue, 22 Sep 2026 15:22:06 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=35107 Local councilor Dragoș Roșianu criticized fellow councilor Daniel Meze for generalizing about relocated Roma families after a fire incident, urging him to verify facts directly with affected families.

The fire, which affected 16 apartments, was attributed to an electrical issue, not the ethnicity of the residents, highlighting the need for responsible administration and fact-based discussions.

Roșianu emphasized the importance of integration and support for Roma families, rejecting stigmatization and calling for constructive dialogue to address any issues within the community.

]]> Flop https://rroma.org/flop/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=flop Sun, 20 Sep 2026 13:47:14 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=35058 A protest in Cluj-Napoca against the relocation of families from the Pata Rât landfill attracted fewer than 20 participants, mostly young people under 35, and was organized by a group known for anti-LGBTQ and anti-abortion actions.

Protesters expressed hateful sentiments towards the Roma community and criticized local authorities, claiming that the relocation project unfairly benefits homeless individuals at the expense of hardworking citizens.

The local government clarified that only 50 apartments were purchased for relocation, funded primarily by external grants, and that the project aims to gradually relocate families from Pata Rât by 2030.

]]> Sinti in Duisburg https://rroma.org/sinti-in-duisburg/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sinti-in-duisburg Sat, 12 Sep 2026 13:08:06 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=34878 Sinti families have been residing in Duisburg since the 1970s, living in container homes.

They are currently facing fears of being displaced from their homes.

The situation has led to increasing desperation among the Sinti community.

]]> Some SMARK Results … https://rroma.org/some-smark-results/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=some-smark-results Wed, 09 Sep 2026 14:05:27 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=34790 The report reveals that 51% of Roma communities in Slovakia lack sidewalks, with many also facing barriers like rivers or railways separating them from the rest of the municipality. While the Sociographic Mapping of Roma Communities (SMARK 2025) indicates improvements in technical infrastructure since 2019, particularly in water supply, sewage, electricity, and public lighting,

significant disparities remain between Roma localities and surrounding municipalities, particularly in access to gas and other utilities.

]]> SMARK https://rroma.org/smark/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=smark Wed, 09 Sep 2026 14:04:32 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=34787 The SMARK initiative aims to provide updated data on the living conditions of people in Roma communities, helping to identify and address specific issues.

The mapping shows an increase in the Roma population since 2019, with changes in the municipalities providing data, including the largest Roma community now being Jarovnice instead of Košice-Luník IX.

Positive developments in integration efforts are noted in Nové Zámky, where principles of desegregation and destigmatization have led to significant progress.

]]> Bulgaria – Improvement? https://rroma.org/bulgaria-improvement/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bulgaria-improvement Wed, 02 Sep 2026 15:47:10 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=34610 Bulgarian Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva visited Kyustendil to discuss improvements in living conditions, infrastructure, education, and access to services in the “East” neighborhood, highlighting local government and community engagement.

The visit included meetings with local officials and community members, focusing on the importance of housing status and the role of Roma mediators in facilitating access to education and services.

Delcheva emphasized the need for sustainable urban planning initiated in 2017, which aims to improve living conditions for over 1,000 households and ensure better access to essential services.

]]> Education https://rroma.org/education-5/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=education-5 Fri, 31 Jul 2026 17:15:32 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=33941 Gabriela Gáborová, a Roma mayor in Slovakia, emphasizes the importance of education for Roma children and has prioritized building a kindergarten in her village, Vtáčkovce, while addressing illegal housing issues.

She faces discrimination as a Roma woman in her role, having received extremist threats since taking office, but remains committed to her work and believes in judging individuals by their actions rather than their ethnicity or gender.

Gáborová highlights the ongoing challenges of illegal constructions and land ownership disputes in her community, advocating for legal housing solutions and integration of Roma families into society.

]]> Cluj Project https://rroma.org/cluj-project/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=cluj-project Wed, 29 Jul 2026 15:39:39 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=33875 The article discusses a social experiment initiated by Cluj’s mayor, Emil Boc, involving the distribution of apartments to low-income Roma families, funded by Norwegian grants which the author dismissively qualifies as ‘Soros-Type’ grants.

Critics argue that this initiative is ineffective and raises questions about the financial sustainability and integration of these families into the community, especially given the high cost of living in Cluj.

The author expresses concerns about potential discrimination against other disadvantaged groups in Cluj, suggesting that the focus on Roma families overlooks the needs of other citizens struggling with housing and financial issues.

]]> Housing in Slovakia https://rroma.org/housing-in-slovakia-5/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=housing-in-slovakia-5 Mon, 27 Jul 2026 16:05:29 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=33836 The Slovak government has launched a €35.3 million initiative to support the construction, extension, and renovation of social rental housing aimed at increasing housing availability for young families, seniors, people with disabilities, and marginalized Roma communities.

Municipalities are required to maintain the rental nature of these apartments for at least 20 years and offer them at regulated rents, with a minimum percentage of units allocated for Roma communities based on their representation in the municipality.

Additional conditions include reserving 15% of the apartments for people with disabilities and establishing a maintenance fund of at least 0.5% of the acquisition costs to ensure long-term sustainability.

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