The housing situation of a certain number of Roma households can be seen as (very) critical. Measures counteracting ghettoization tendencies have to be implemented in these sometimes highly segregated settlements as soon as possible. The Roma minority’s general level of integration in the Croatian society is very low. In this context the improvement of the housing conditions is seen as a basic step towards a better integration of Roma in general. Several steps are taken in order to develop a sustainable strategy of integrating Roma. Starting with the reissue of an empirical study on the living conditions of Roma in Zagreb, a data basis is provided for the planning of further actions (ongoing).

Researcher: Austrian Academy of Sciences, Prof. Heinz Fassmann, Peter Görgl

An important measure that affects neighborhood-based social policy as well as anti-segregation intentions is the reissue of the study on the Roma minority living in Zagreb that was realized in 2004/2005.
The results of that new study shall provide a general basis for concrete measures enhancing the integration of Roma people in the urban society. In consideration of the fundamental problems the Roma minority has to deal with, conceivable concrete measures have to follow a comprehensive strategy.

Secondly, the Zagreb City government established a Committee for the implementation of the City program of activities and measures for improvement of the area and its environment of locations inhabited by Roma population. The Committee needs to coordinate activities for preparation, construction and evaluation of practicability studies, to determine locations for temporarily housing and to create a plan and program for emergency communal arrangement of particular locations according to the City program.

The whole Roma minority living in Zagreb can be seen as the target group of these measures. According to census data, about 800 people can benefit from the measures.

In-house resources (Municipality of Zagreb).

City of Zagreb
Zagreb
Elizabeta Knorr (Head of Department)

//2007

case

Urban Policy

Housing