On Monday, YWN-ISRAEL reported that new eligibility requirements being formulated by the Israel Lands Administration for government housing were not moving in favor of the chareidi community. While Housing Minister Ariel Atias was compelled to amend the current regulations, which are viewed as too pro chareidi, the minister feels that he managed to walk the line, complying with demands to amend the eligibility requirements towards accommodating IDF veterans, but without harming the chareidi tzibur. The details follow.

Atias told the press that his Shas party is not about to sell out the lower income families, representing many of its constituents, insisting the new regulations do not abandon the needs of a growing number of young chareidi couples seeking government-assisted housing.

According to the new reality, 50% of the government assisted housing nationwide will include more favorable requirements for IDF veterans. The remaining 50% will continue to accommodate the chareidi tzibur and operate under the current system. That means the 50% under the new regulations will grant an additional 10 points for IDF veterans, taking both members of the household into consideration. The other 50% will focus on years married and number of children. Towards lightening the load of young couples seeking to acquire a home, the government will sell 100 square meter rights to construct a home at a reduced price. The land will be sold at a 50% subsidy, making an apartment affordable.

It is hoped that this policy will encourage real estate developers and builders to pass these reductions along to young families, those with “rights”, referring to couples that have not owned a home previously. Each young couple is entitled to a subsidized home once in a lifetime. (In priority areas, such as the Galil for example, the space allocation will be increased to 120 square meters).

Priority scale for eligible couples: 1. First priority to couples with a disability that results in at least one person being confined to a wheelchair. 2. Years married will account for up to 70 points maximum calculated at 7 points per year. 3. Half of the housing units slated for ‘entitled couples’ will add for military service, up to a maximum of 30 points. 4. The second half of the subsidized housing will not take military service into consideration. Points will however be given for the number of children and years married, favoring chareidi families. New regulations include: 1. Housing units divided into three categories a) 20% for those about to get married b) 35% for families with 1 or 2 children c) 45% for families with 3 or more children

Using the point system, if a number of couples are vying for the same housing unit, the one with the most points will receive it.

Ministry officials add that while Atias comes under fire for favoring chareidim, in an area like Ramat Beit Shemesh, where such housing units have recently become available, it is up to the developer to decide where to advertise the homes.

Logic dictates that a non-frum person is not going to buy in Ramat Beit Shemesh any more than a frum person would not buy in a secular community but ultimately, there are no such things as “housing slated for a sector” one official told Kol Berama Radio on Monday night, January 30, 2012.

He explained that people tend to migrate to areas that are suitable for their lifestyle but the Housing Ministry does not play a role in such decision but rather this is the work of developers and builders.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)