New housing initiative disappoints Karabakh refugees

The Armenian government has offered Karabakh refugee families of up to three people, including disabled and elderly people, to pay rent for 10 years. The proposed amount is insufficient to cover the rent, while the refugees are being deprived of the opportunity to find their own homes, the refugees complained.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," starting in June 2024, the Armenian government has been providing certificates for the purchase of housing in the amount of 3 to 5 million drams as part of a housing program for internally displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh. By October, more than 3,000 certificates had been issued for the purchase of housing to internally displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh. A total of 1,044 families were able to use their certificates; for the rest, the high cost of real estate remains an obstacle.

Armenian authorities proposed changes to the housing program

On November 26, the Armenian Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs submitted for public discussion a proposal for small refugee families to receive support in the form of long-term partial rent compensation for 120 months, at 40,000 drams per month per family member, instead of home purchase certificates, as part of the housing program. The new program is currently undergoing public discussion on the single website for publishing draft legal acts.

The government's draft states that it plans to "provide social support in the form of long-term partial rent compensation to provide housing to families displaced from Karabakh—those registered on the waiting list for housing in the state social housing fund under state social support programs in the manner prescribed by law."

The recipients will be families who meet the conditions of the housing program, but instead of participating in it, chose to resolve the housing issue through long-term rent compensation." These are small families that consist only of members with a permanent disability of group I or II, or a permanent limitation of functionality of a profound or severe level, or members aged 60 and above, if the total age of the members is 115 years or more - for families of two, or the total age of the members is 175 years or more - for families of three.

It is planned to provide social support for 120 months, setting the monthly support amount at 40,000 drams (approximately 104 US dollars) for each family member.

It is further noted that "if the project is adopted, no significant increase or decrease in the expenses and revenues of the state budget of the Republic of Armenia is expected," and that "this decision shall enter into force on July 1, 2026."

The program provides for support for a period of 10 years, and a logical question arises - what will people do after completion the specified period

Head of the Information and Consulting Center Liana Petrosyan noted that the discussion of the program for small families ends on December 1. "There is no information yet from the government on the outcome of these discussions. However, during this entire time, the center has received several hundred indignant calls, and our monitoring on social media has shown that the new project presented by the government cannot meet the expectations of small families. Clearly, this project on long-term partial compensation of rent for refugee families from Artsakh (the self-designation of Nagorno-Karabakh - ed. "Caucasian Knot"), consisting of 1-3 members, has generated a serious wave of criticism," noted Petrosyan.

According to her, "first of all, the circle of families envisaged by the program is quite narrow; separate groups of families with certain categories of recipients are identified, while we know that there are many more small families," and that "the program provides support for a period of 10 years, and a logical question arises - what will people do after the specified period ends."

Petrosyan also emphasized that "a study of the rental market "The real estate market shows that there is no housing available for rent for the amount provided by the project," and that "in the case of persons with disabilities of the 1st and 2nd groups, as well as persons over 60 years of age, who will be considered recipients of the program, it will be quite difficult to find adapted real estate, carry out regular moves, and ultimately, the family will not have property."

Rental prices in Armenia vary greatly depending on the city, region, and type of housing, but on average in Yerevan they are around $356 per month without modern renovations and amenities, a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told at one of the real estate agencies. It is also possible to rent a room for shared accommodation starting from over $100. Apartments with renovations and amenities start at $300 and go up to $1,000 or more in the center of the capital. In regional cities of Armenia, the average rent for good housing is $400-500. In rural areas cheaper.

Refugees called the proposed changes to the program a mockery

Retiree and widow Laura Grigoryan from Stepanakert lives in Yerevan with her daughter. She left behind her home, property, and her husband's grave in Nagorno-Karabakh. She and her daughter decided to settle in one of Armenia's regions, but due to employment problems, they were forced to move to Yerevan. The daughter, who has a higher education and many years of experience in the legal field, was able to find work only in the service sector. Due to high rent, they had to change homes several times. The combined age of her and her daughter is under 115.

"The program does not meet the needs. We, and many similar small families among my acquaintances, are all against this program. Even if a family receives 40,000 drams, that's only 60% of the rent. If the authorities truly want to help the refugees, they should increase the certificate amount so we can buy housing, or provide housing based on our property titles in Stepanakert, which we lost," the widow believes.

"The program's authors are counting on many people dying within 10 years, leaving the remainder unpaid, and those still alive will be left homeless again after 10 years. I don't think the government has any desire to solve the refugees' housing problem. Property prices aren't controlled at the state level, so they rise every month. It's not that difficult to simply provide people with housing, or provide them with the necessary funds, taking into account the housing lost in Nagorno-Karabakh. "I'm sure they simply don't want to," Arman Marutyan, from Stepanakert, told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The combined age of all family members may not reach the amount indicated in the project, meaning they won't be able to receive support.

Venus Balugyan, from Nagorno-Karabakh, considers the program "a mockery of refugees." "The total age of all family members may not reach the amount specified in the project, which means they will not be able to receive support. All these people had their own homes and lived on a salary or pension. And given the high rental prices, the amount provided is disproportionate to these prices. Instead of such shameful programs, they could provide people with social housing," the woman believes.

Karina Harutyunyan's family consists of three people. In Nagorno-Karabakh, the family lived in their own house in Stepanakert. According to her, as a small family, they cannot use certificates to purchase housing, since real estate prices in Armenia are several times higher than those offered under the certificate. They also cannot take advantage of the new program because they are not pensioners or disabled. The family's current income goes entirely towards rent, the needs of the child, and the family's meager diet.

"Program "It's absurd, since most small families won't be able to use it. We're an ordinary small family, and we don't have the opportunity to acquire housing. The government's programs don't meet the needs of most refugee families," Harutyunyan shared.

Wouldn't it be more logical to build houses, dormitories, and social housing?

Slavik Harutyunyan from Stepanakert agreed that "such a program suggests the government expects these pensioners and disabled people to die within a few years." "Wouldn't it be more logical to build houses, dormitories, and social housing? Then we could say the government cares about these people," the man said. The program would be comprehensive if it applied to all small refugee families, without conditions or restrictions, emphasized Nina Danielyan from Stepanakert. By their logic, it turns out that a person over 60, or a disabled person, has the right to live only for the next 10 years. These people should be provided with social housing, and the program should be made accessible to all small families. And keep in mind that it is impossible for people over 55 to find employment in Armenia," Danielyan told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.