Problems of residents living in temporary dwellings as an issue on the agendas of Local Authorities and political parties

On September 25th, a working discussion took place in the office of HCA Vanadzor with the participation of Local authorities, NGOs and political parties. The housing problems in temporary dwelling areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 (186 families) need immediate attention.

The municipality of Vanadzor submitted a court claim against the residents of temporary dwellings demanding that they should vacate the territory. According to the court resolution the residents are obliged to leave the area of temporary dwellings though they are not given any place to live in.

The municipality of Vanadzor didn’t announce sufficiently the auctions of those lots, and still does not give information on who the new owners are. In an answer to the letter sent by HCA Vanadzor, the municipality mentioned that “in the above-mentioned places hospital and sport complexes will be built, and some space was sold to the citizens of the Republic of Armenia”.

The Avagani (counsel) of Vanadzor is not aware of the auction, either. The municipality of Vanadzor demands from the current residents that they vacate the premises even though it is not the owner of the territory, taking advantage of not having given any information about the real owners. On this occasion HCA Vanadzor applied to the prosecutor’s office of Lori region to hold an investigation in order to find out the legality of the procedures.

At the same time, HCA Vanadzor suggested that Avagani should
• demand from the municipality of Vanadzor a report on the legality of the auction of temporary dwelling areas 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 and the purpose of the use of those areas.

• discuss the issue of allocating areas with the aim of forming public housing in the temporary dwelling areas 1,2,3,4, and 7

Avagani sent its message to the panArmenian Forum asking for the strengthening of 84 buildings in Vanadzor. According to Avagani a possible solution for the current residents of the temporary dwellings could be the allocation of damaged apartments.

The representative of the political party “Hzor Hayrenik”, Vahan Ghuyumchyan, suggested that the residents of the temporary dwellings should be classified based on how they lost their homes originally. He thinks that, during the distribution of these apartments, privilege should be given to those who lost their homes during the earthquake.

HCA Vanadzor researched the 138 temporary dwellings in Vanadzor, and arrived at results that could aid in such classification. NGO “ACRPC” also investigated the hostels, which are currently inhabited by former temporary dwelling residents. The head of the organization, Gevork Manukyan, informed that this research was carried out by order of the ombudsman, and he offered to jointly work out a package of suggestions addressed to him.

The coordinator of HCA Vanadzor Arthur Sakunts is sure that the best option for the solution of these residents’ problems could be the formation of public housing.
It’s disconcerting that the reason for the residents’ unsolved problems is civil inactivity and lack of civic control. The participants of the working meetings made the following suggestions:

1. presentation of a draft resolution by Avagani for forming public housing
2. raising the issue of legality of the selling of the territories which are under the ownership of the community

The participants decided to hold another working meeting in the office of HCA with participation of NGOs and political parties on October 2nd. During the meeting, letters will be worked out and addressed to the prosecutor’s office of Lori region and RA Government. These letters will be sent to relevant structures by NGOs, political parties and citizens.