Subsidized Mortgage — Though Not Free
Igor Belyaev is known as an active advocate for the rights of orphaned children and people in difficult life circumstances. As a graduate of an orphanage himself, he is aware of the real needs of such individuals."Today, I need help myself," he shared on social media earlier.Upon learning that he does not qualify for social benefits, as he is not a single parent or a person with disabilities, he faced the reality that his status as an orphanage graduate does not entitle him to assistance. Igor was informed that his only option is an affordable mortgage at 8% per annum, while the queue for such a program consists of about 15,000 people.
Not accustomed to despair, 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 this category of citizens is one of the most vulnerable.
"After leaving orphanages and boarding schools, orphaned children find themselves without support, starting capital, and often without housing. Although the law guarantees the right to housing, many graduates cannot obtain it for years," he noted.
In his proposal, Belyaev highlighted the need to:
- amend the Housing Code of the Kyrgyz Republic to grant graduates of orphanages the right to social mortgages;
- provide them the opportunity to register with the State Mortgage Company to obtain a subsidized mortgage at 4% per annum;
- ensure equal rights for orphanage graduates in state housing programs with the possibility of independently purchasing housing.
Social Housing for Orphans
At a joint meeting of the parliamentary groups "Ala-Too" and "Eldik," Deputy Prime Minister Edil Baisalov announced the government's plans to introduce a social housing program for orphans."Under the social mortgage, housing becomes private property. We also plan to implement a social housing program for orphans, which will take the form of rental. This program is being developed at the request of the president," noted the deputy chairman of the cabinet of ministers.
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According to the Children's Code, orphaned children who reach the age of 16 and do not have housing have the right to receive housing out of turn. The Housing Code of the Kyrgyz Republic also guarantees housing for orphaned children and those left without parental care after their stay in educational and social institutions.Public organizations emphasize that the issue of providing housing for graduates of orphanages is extremely complex. In 2021, the public fund "Our Right" and the NGO "Interbiliim" conducted a study that showed that approximately 300-400 children graduate from orphanages each year, but there is no data on the number of those in need of housing.
The study revealed that 43% of graduates are dissatisfied with their current housing conditions, while 30% complain about high rental prices. "As representatives of NGOs assert, temporary housing for graduates is usually handled by organizations using donation funds, but this is insufficient to meet the needs of all," the study notes.
"Legislation ensuring the rights of orphaned children to housing is not being enforced. Graduates of orphanages remain without support, and the issue of their housing provision is not a priority for either municipal or state authorities," the authors of the study conclude.
