Social Housing in the Czech Republic

Currently there is no legislation on Social Housing (SH) in the Czech Republic. However, this does not mean that there is no attempts in implementing the concept in the country. The absence of legal and methodological boundaries provides an opportunity for creativity and experimentation on municipal and local level, obviously only for those municipalities who are interested in solving this problem.

The only governmental document addressing SH is the “Social Housing Concept of Czech Republic 2015–2025”. The material provides the theoretical and strategic basis for tackling the growing number of housing crises. Furthermore, it outlines the goals and aims of the Czech Government, which are to be fulfilled by 2025. The Social Housing Concept also points out certain problems related to the housing crisis. These are for example: high financial burden of some households in relations to the housing expenses, lack of the affordable housing for specific groups of people, residential segregation, discrimination of specific groups of people in terms of access to the affordable housing etc.

Currently, the social housing issue falls within the purview of both the Ministry of Regional Development – responsible for housing policy, and the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs – the guarantor and supervisor of social work.

Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs defines SH as: housing, provided to persons in a housing crisis, or in the imminent danger of a housing crisis, including persons, whose housing costs are excessive. SH is provided under special rental conditions and in accordance with certain principles. The users of SH are provided with support in the form of social work, if needed. At local level, SH always takes the form of rental apartment and can be linked to social services. Social services – such as homeless shelters – create a safety net for people in a housing crisis.

The core principles of SH are:

• Housing in a standard flat/apartment
• Individual approach per the clients’ needs
• Competence and responsibility-training
• Anti-discrimination
• Prevention of spatial and social segregation
• Prevention of social exclusion and homelessness
• Sustainability

As for the implementation of SH, it is important to note, that:

1) The settlement structure in the Czech Republic is very fragmented, with over 80% of municipalities having fewer than 1,000 citizens;

2) Housing policies are locally designated at municipal level with minimal input from regional authorities.

Therefore, in the absence of a unified, national system, the individual municipalities create and implement their own versions of SH. As a result, there is a rich variety of municipal SH systems, each with its own specifics, preferences, and ways to address particular local needs. In addition, the majority of municipalities obviously does not deal with this issue at all.

Whereas some municipalities have dozens, if not hundreds, of workers, others have e.g. a mayor and a part-time accountant only. Experience shows, that while the role of implementation of SH with the absence of legislation is not easy, it is important that there is a determination of implementing SH at least locally, as a base that eventually will help the implementation of a complex country-wide system of SH.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs works closely with 16 municipalities, which submitted their own SH projects and have been receiving EU funding since 2016. These three-year projects focus on crisis management and social housing, as well as on the necessary social work. These sixteen projects are based on the objecives and outlines presented in the national Social Housing Concept and as such are monitored by the ministry, which then extrapolates useful data and uses them to further develop the SH at the national level.

The need to have the SH system is becoming ever more urgent, yet the situation is not hopeless. Measures are being approved in order to support housing of families and individuals who otherwise would be unable to reach housing at market prices. Furthermore, the examples of good practices continue to help and learn through the growing experience.

Ultimately, the national Government is responsible for provision of a long-term solution to specific important issues through legislative means. SH is such an area as it has been a burning topic in the country since several years already. In December 2018, call for Housing First projects has been started by Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and in May 2019, the Ministry of Regional Development has launched an investment program, which aims to provide finances for the re/construction and acquisition of housing capacities for municipalities.

Published: June 2019