Two families who once took shelter in the former Municipal Building won today in the Administrative Court against the Tirana Municipality, which had excluded them from the reconstruction program.
The building where they were housed was damaged by the earthquake and was scheduled to be demolished in 2023.
"We have taken 15 cases to court, of which 5 have been won so far and 1 has been dismissed, not accepted," Gentia Sejrani, a lawyer for residents and representative of the "Social Justice" organization, told Citizens.al.
Through today's decision, these families will be able to benefit from a rental bonus and will have the right to receive housing under the reconstruction program.
Until 2019, the former municipal dormitories on “Myslym Keta” street housed about 90 families. The earthquake of November 26 of that year forced them to move, after one of the buildings was severely damaged, and due to insecurity, the municipality decided to demolish it.
But, despite promises of social support, the majority of former residents are now outside the reconstruction program and without a rental bonus.
"Residents are now renting, in different areas. They do not benefit from a rental bonus, they pay it out of pocket, with great difficulty. Some are even living in the homes of their relatives," Serjani said.
A government decision in 2009 tasked the National Housing Authority with continuing the privatization process of two former municipal dormitories with the residents who had been sheltered there.
The VKM of that time listed at least 106 beneficiary residents, while dozens of others were reportedly left out.
However, some failed to complete the process due to lack of information, while others failed due to financial conditions.
The lack of clear ownership titles was one of the reasons why the Tirana municipality excluded them from the reconstruction program.
Since January 2024, residents left homeless and without rent bonuses have protested several times in front of the municipality.
Also Read:
- Reconstruction: Three families of former municipal workers win trial against Tirana municipality
- Tirana: Five years after the earthquake, the residents of the former municipality are homeless and without bonuses
- They were excluded from the reconstruction; Residents of the former municipality protest in front of the municipality of Tirana
Erisa Kryeziu has completed higher studies in Journalism and Communication and Master of Science in Public Relations at the University of Tirana. She has been a journalist and project manager at Citizens.al for five years, where she reports on social issues and human rights, especially on issues of rights at work, in education, gender equality, marginalized groups, people with disabilities such as and for environmental issues. At the same time, she works as a project coordinator with a focus on youth and media education. User of new reporting techniques such as "Mobile Journalism" and citizen engagement tools in reporting (ECR-Engage Citizens Journalism).
