Not Free, But With Benefits
As a well-known figure working for the benefit of orphaned children and families in difficult situations, Igor Belyaev is a graduate of an orphanage and is intimately aware of the problems faced by such individuals."Today, I need help myself," he shared on social media earlier.However, it turned out that he cannot take advantage of the social benefit, as he is not a disabled person, a father of many children, or someone in a difficult life situation. The status of being an orphanage graduate does not allow him to receive benefits, and the only option left for him is a mortgage with an interest rate of 8%. In this program, the waiting list consists of about 15,000 people.
Refusing to give up, Belyaev decided to propose changes to the Housing Code to support orphaned children and graduates of orphanages. He sent an official letter to several deputies, emphasizing that graduates of orphanages are one of the most vulnerable categories of the population.
"Graduates of orphanages and boarding schools are left without family support, without starting capital, and often without housing. Despite the right enshrined in law, many of them cannot realize it for years," he noted.
In this regard, Belyaev proposed to consider the following changes:
- to include graduates of orphanages in the list of individuals entitled to social mortgages;
- to provide them with the opportunity to register with the State Mortgage Company to obtain a preferential mortgage at 4% per annum;
- to ensure equal rights for orphanage graduates to participate in state housing programs with the possibility of independent housing payment.
Social Housing for Orphans
At a recent joint meeting of the parliamentary groups "Ala-Too" and "Eldik," Edil Baisalov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, announced plans to introduce a social housing program for orphans."Social mortgages imply that the housing becomes private property. We also plan to introduce a social housing program for orphans in the format of rental. This project is being developed at the request of the president," noted the deputy head of the cabinet.
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According to the Children's Code, orphaned children who have reached the age of 16 and do not have housing are entitled to receive housing for use out of turn, in accordance with the legislation. The Housing Code of the Kyrgyz Republic also guarantees that orphaned children and those left without parental care are provided with housing out of turn upon completion of their stay in educational institutions or social service facilities.Public organizations note that the issue of providing housing for graduates of orphanages remains extremely relevant. In 2021, the funds "Our Right" and "Interbilim" conducted a study on the housing conditions of this category of citizens. "In Kyrgyzstan, 300-400 graduates of orphanages are released annually, but there is no information on how many of them need housing," the study states.
According to the data, 43% of orphanage graduates are dissatisfied with their housing conditions, and 30% of respondents consider renting housing too expensive. "Public organizations usually address the issue of temporary housing for orphanage graduates with the help of donors and concerned citizens; however, such assistance cannot cover all those in need. This puts them at risk of marginalization, homelessness, and involvement in crime," the report notes.
"Legislation to ensure the housing rights of orphaned children is not being implemented. Graduates of orphanages remain overlooked, and the issue of their housing is not a priority for municipal and state authorities," concluded the authors of the study.
