Young people from Chisinau between the ages of 16 and 21, who are studying in secondary, pre-university and higher vocational technical education, who have been left without parental protection and do not have a place to live can access the Assisted Temporary Social Housing service in five specialized centers. The beneficiaries will be fully covered for housing and food costs.
The General Directorate for the Protection of Children’s Rights says that in order to prevent separation in assisted social housing, sibling duos can be placed together, if one of them is eligible for the program and the other is at least 14 years old. In total, 22 girls and boys, including children and young refugees, can benefit from Supported Temporary Social Housing. Up to six young people can be placed in a hosting space. Children and young people in assisted social housing will also benefit from the services provided by the Directorate’s Resource and Support Center for Children and Young People: they will participate in trainings, workshops, competitions, personal and professional development programs.
“Initially, young people are guided by social pedagogues on how to do the housework, individual care, self-service, prepare food, after which, gradually, the children are encouraged to do the chores individually, under the periodic monitoring of the specialists”, said the Directorate’s head Tatiana Oboroc.
The UNICEF Country Representative in Moldova, Maha Damaj, said that “the child protection system must, indeed, provide continuous assistance in a difficult situation. However, we must also prepare children and young people for an independent life”. Maha Damaj added that the importance of this social service lies in giving children and young people who have left the residential system or other forms of protection assistance support and counseling in forming independent life skills, in continuing their education, in the process of social integration, in facilitating their employment.
The extension and consolidation of the Assisted Social Housing project is in line with a Memorandum of Understanding between the Chisinau City Hall and UNICEF Moldova.
