The family of Zdravka Knežević and 70 others got the roof over their heads after waiting 30 years since they fled Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The contract for the apartment she was waiting for was awarded to her by the Ambassador of the European Union to Serbia, Emanuele Giaufret. “Altogether, as many as 6600 families have received keys to their new homes and every such moment is unique – for them as well as for us in the EU. Today is not exception and so I am happy to see smiling faces of another 71 families who today enter apartments they can now call their true home”, said Ambassador Giaufret when handing over the contract to the refugee families.

Two months ago, 250 families moved into their new homes in the Belgrade neighbourhood of  Ovča.

Through the Regional Housing Program (RHP), financed by the European Union with 80 percent of the funds, it is planned that 7,442 families will receive their permanent roof above their heads in Serbia. The program was established to provide permanent housing solutions to vulnerable refugees and displaced persons following the conflict in the territory of former Yugoslavia from 1991 to 1995. The RHP conducts its activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia. The Regional Housing Program (RHP) was established as a regional initiative of Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to help refugees and displaced persons. It is implemented with the support of the OSCE, UNHCR and the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB). The European Union finances 80 percent of the funds, and in addition to that, the USA, Germany, Norway, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, Turkey, Luxembourg, Spain also participate.