Bečarević: Since 2018, the Cantonal Housing Fund has not built a single building; continue and increase subsidies for young people

(Patria) - Almir Bečarević, president of the Cantonal Council of the Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina KS, reacted to statements by the Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton, Nihad Uk, that this year they will subsidize apartment rents for young couples and work on building additional apartments that young people will be able to buy under more favorable conditions.

"When we think that Prime Minister Uk can no longer surprise us with his statements, he only proves that we are all wrong. What that 'additional' construction of apartments for young people looks like can be seen on the website of the Cantonal Housing Fund. That fund has not built a single building since 2018, and that is the result of the current government. At the same time, in the last 15 years, fewer than 700 apartments have been built through this fund, which, for the 80,000 young people in the Canton, is an insignificant number.

Through the subsidization of young people via the first home purchase program in the Canton since 2017, subsidies have been awarded to approximately 3,600 young people.

So, by the end of this year, 3,600 young people have used this incentive measure, and Sarajevo Canton has managed to build 700 apartments in 15 years, and not a single one since 2018.
Also, it is interesting that Sarajevo Canton wants to subsidize rents for young people, so we do not know if this program would be to fill empty apartments for all those who invest in real estate and do not know what to do with them.

Builder Bob, i.e., our Prime Minister, wants to start 'additional' construction, which is commendable, but looking at the current dynamics of apartment construction for young people and what has been 'built' since 2018, many young people will also qualify for a well-deserved pension.

From these indicators, it is clear that nothing serious should be expected regarding any apartment construction, but the subsidy program should continue, because the number of 3,600 young people who have used this type of subsidy shows that interest is significant.

Therefore, a message to the current government: Increase the allocated amounts for the current subsidy program and continue this program, which can be modified, but in a way that the number of applicants is as large as possible so that Sarajevo Canton does not literally become a Canton of the elderly," Bečarević concludes.