Herceg Novi, Montenegro, 1 June 2020: During a visit to Herceg Novi, Montenegro, today, the Montenegrin Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Kemal Purišić, met with a number of Regional Housing Programme (RHP)  beneficiaries in the municipality. Minister Purišić was accompanied on the visit by the Head of Cabinet of the Mayor of Herceg Novi, Dragana Stanišić; the Director of the Center for Social Work, Vladimir Delić; the RHP National Coordinator, Budimirka Ɖukanović; the RHP General Manager in Montenegro, Vladimir Cicmil, and Social Worker, Ljubica Durutović, among others.

In March, 22 apartments were purchased for most-vulnerable beneficiaries in Herceg Novi under the RHP MNE7 sub-project, with the purchase of a further 14 foreseen by June 2021. The total cost of MNE7 is over EUR 1 million, of which approximately EUR 920 000 is provided by RHP Donors, of which the European Union is the biggest Donor. By the end of 2022, the RHP aims to provide over 680 housing units to vulnerable refugee families across Montenegro.

Minister Purišić took the opportunity to thank all those involved in the implementation of the RHP, and pledged the Government of Montenegro’s continued commitment to providing housing to most-vulnerable refugees and displaced persons. Congratulating the beneficiaries, he added: “Please view Montenegro as your second home, because this country is your home in the true sense of the word.” These words were echoed by Mr Delić, who also pointed out that the Center for Social Work was available to provide assistance to all those in need.

Thanking the RHP, the beneficiaries recounted the impact that their new homes had had on their lives. “These living conditions simply cannot be compared to our previous accommodation. I thank everyone who provided my family and I with our new home,” said Zaser Tafa. Another beneficiary, Nenad Draganić agreed: “After 25 years, I finally have a key to my own home, and a roof over my head,” he said. Nada Mandić added: “Today, my children have proper conditions in which to study and lead lives that all young people deserve. This is the beginning of a new chapter in our lives.”