The number of people in need of housing improvement has decreased in the Vitebsk region

By the end of 2012, the number of people in need of housing in the Vitebsk region decreased by 2.3 percent compared to the previous year. Statistical data indicate that by the end of December, 72.8 thousand citizens (families) were registered as needing improved housing conditions in our region, of which 31.1 thousand (or 42.7 percent) were in Vitebsk. In rural areas, this figure is significantly lower – 5.8 thousand (8 percent). Incidentally, 12.2 thousand of all those on the waiting list have been waiting for new housing for 10 or more years.

Among those in need of improved housing conditions, 18.9 percent live in dormitories, 1.5 percent live in apartments occupied by several tenants, and 0.5 percent live in houses deemed unfit for habitation.

In the past year, 2.7 thousand residents of Vitebsk were eligible for social housing. The majority in this queue were orphans and children left without parental care who have been emancipated or have married. This group accounted for 71.1 percent of the total number. Citizens whose average monthly aggregate income per family member does not exceed the approved subsistence minimum constituted only 16.5 percent. Another 6.9 percent were those with children with disabilities in their families.

In 2012, 5.5 thousand people on the waiting list in the Vitebsk region received housing and improved their housing conditions, which is 7.4 percent of the total number registered. Special attention was paid to solving the problems of young and large families. During the year, 2.4 thousand young families and 323 large families became new homeowners. Categories of the population in need of social protection were also not overlooked. Among the residents of Vitebsk who benefit from legislative privileges, 370 people received housing and improved their housing conditions in 2012. Of these, 251 were allocated social housing.

According to data from the Main Statistical
Office of the Vitebsk Region

prepared by Lilia Ivchenko, "Vitebsky Rabochy"