Democratic councilors in the Bar Municipal Assembly: One million euros to be allocated for subsidies for social housing

The Democratic Councilors in the Municipal Assembly (MA) of Bar announced that today they will submit an initiative to the Secretariat for Finance to include a new budget item in the amount of 1.000.000 euros in the Bar Municipality Budget Proposal for 2026, intended for subsidies for social housing.

"Based on our obligations to citizens and the reality in which a large number of Bar families live today, today we will submit to the competent Secretariat for Finance an Initiative to include a new budget item in the amount of 1.000.000 euros in the Bar Municipality Budget Proposal for 2026, intended for subsidies for social housing. Bar is a city that plans a budget of more than 65 million euros. A city that can and should make capital expenditures, but at the same time must have enough understanding and strength to help those who live the hardest and do not have a resolved housing issue. Our fellow citizens who are single parents, families who are in a difficult social situation, as well as young couples who take out their first housing loan, bear the heaviest burden every month, the burden of housing, which has become the largest individual expense in the life of an average Bar family," the statement from the Democrats in the Bar Municipal Assembly states.

The statement adds that in the municipalities of Herceg Novi and Budva there are already models that recognize this.

"Budva, through its decision and budget, has foreseen significant funds for social housing and support programs. Herceg Novi has gone a step further, introducing rent subsidies, clearly ranking priority groups, including single parents and socially vulnerable families. These municipalities have shown that local self-government does not have to look aside while citizens in a state of social need go through financial challenges by allocating significant funds for rent. They are proof that such a policy is possible. We believe that it is time for Bar to make such a step forward. Our municipality, with a rapidly growing budget, must not allow citizens to become victims of high rents, bank debts and the inability to provide basic living conditions. If a city with 65 million euros cannot allocate one million for families living on the edge of existence, then we are making the purpose of local government meaningless," said the members of the Democrats in the Bar Municipal Assembly.

They state that they therefore propose:

1) To include a special budget item in the Draft and Proposal of the Budget for 2026: "Subsidies for social housing - 1.000.000 euros", which would be intended for: single parents living as tenants; socially vulnerable families; young married couples taking out their first housing loan.

2) To prepare and adopt, in parallel with the budget, a Decision on subsidies for social housing. This Decision should clearly define the criteria, priority ranking and method of allocation of funds, taking into account the models already applied by the Municipalities of Budva and Herceg Novi.

3) That the Parliament adopt this Decision as soon as possible, in order to ensure that the funds from the 2026 Budget can be implemented smoothly and efficiently.

"As Democratic councilors, we are fully available to the Secretariat for Finance and the competent authorities, both for drafting the Decision and for providing the necessary explanations, data and examples from other municipalities. It is our common obligation to make Bar a city where families feel safe. A city where having a roof over your head is not a luxury. A city that cares. A city where you live, not survive. For this measure, we expect the support of all councilors from the government and the opposition in the Bar Municipal Assembly," the statement from the Democratic councilors in the Bar Municipal Assembly reads.