Change Begins with a Conversation: One Year of HOME EQUALS in Bulgaria23.07.2026-What happens when residents, local authorities, professionals and young people come together to imagine a better future for their neighbourhood? In Bulgaria, the answer is beginning to take shape. One year into the “HOME EQUALS – Improving Housing Conditions in Informal Settlements” project, communities in Kyustendil and Berkovitsa are taking steps towards better housing conditions, […]
Bulgaria: Renovating the unfit housing stock / Feantsa case Study #218.11.2023-More than 19.2 million people in Europe, 4.2% of the total population, were experiencing severe housing deprivation in 2020. Unfit housing has a dramatic affect on the health and wellbeing of households, from physical affects such as respiratory infections and asthma, or the danger of the physical collapse of buildings, and mental toll resulting in […]
Housing without a future?14.03.2022-Has the housing stock in Bulgaria been managed properly? Who should support it? A national housing strategy for 2018-2030 was drafted in 2018, but it has not yet been adopted. Learn more about Habitat Bulgaria’s recommendations for improving the local housing policies and practices in the video below. Habitat Bulgaria is implementing the project „Research […]
Bulgarian textile insulation saves harmful emissions and money. „Inovativno“, BNT208.12.2021-The project for the development of an industrial facility for the production of thermal insulation of recycled textiles supported by the VELUX Foundations, has been promoted by the Bulgarian National Television. For the invented thermal insulation product, the company was honored with the Grand Invention of 2015 by the Union of Inventors in Bulgaria during […]
The National Decent Home Coalition in Bulgaria organizes a working meeting and a General Assembly to present the results of its three years of targeted work towards creating an adequate housing strategic and regulatory framework in the country.
The program of the event was structured in two panels:
The first panel was attended by two experts on strategic housing issues, respectively Mrs. Gergana Blagieva, Director of Housing Policy – Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, presented the concept of MRDPW for continuation of the National Program for Energy Efficiency of Multifamily Residential Buildings and arch. Stoycho Motev – Chief Expert “Regional Analysis, Urban Planning, Territorial Development, Housing Policy, Tourism”, presented the main highlights of the development of a new National Housing Strategy and opportunities for cooperation with coalition experts.
The second panel presented a detailed report on the activities of the Decent Home Coalition for the period 2014 – 2017, after which members unanimously voted on Habitat Bulgaria to continue its activities as Coalition Coordinator for the next 3-year period (2017 – 2020).
The Coalition is an informal grouping of organizations led by a common desire, position and ideas to ensure better housing conditions in the country. It was initiated by Habitat Bulgaria at a founding forum in late January 2014 and since then has been actively working and recruiting new supporters and members. Currently, the coalition includes 32 organizations – non-governmental organizations, industry and professional associations, leading companies in the construction sector, municipalities. In addition, the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAMRB), the Municipal Energy Efficiency Network EcoEnergy and the Union of Architects in Bulgaria (UAB) participate in the coalition’s work as observers.
The work of the coalition is summarized in figures:
● 16 letters submitted with proposals for improvement of housing policies and legislation to the Ministry of Investment Design, Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, National Council for Ethnic and Integration Cooperation;
● Over 60 specific proposals for amendments to the texts in the Condominium Management Act, the Spatial Planning Act and by-laws: Council of Ministers Decree No 18 of 2015 for the adoption of the National Program for Energy Efficiency of Multifamily Residential Buildings and its methodology, the Action Plan for the National Roma Integration Strategy;
● Almost 20 formal and informal meetings of the coalition at national and local level were held, of which 4 formal working meetings with representatives of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works at the level of Deputy Minister, Ministerial Advisor, Director of Housing Policy Directorate;
● Second National Housing Forum organized jointly with Habitat Bulgaria;
● 3 coalition press conferences held.
Building a new path to reclaim and renew Europe’s rural communities, the Ruralise project begins!21.10.2026-Over the past decade, European rural communities have navigated severe demographic shifts and housing pressures that have triggered a rural housing affordability crisis which pushes local youth and vulnerable residents out of their homes. To support rural areas in revitalising their communities, the EU funded Ruralise project will make housing across Europe more affordable, accessible, […]
Change Begins with a Conversation: One Year of HOME EQUALS in Bulgaria23.07.2026-What happens when residents, local authorities, professionals and young people come together to imagine a better future for their neighbourhood? In Bulgaria, the answer is beginning to take shape. One year into the “HOME EQUALS – Improving Housing Conditions in Informal Settlements” project, communities in Kyustendil and Berkovitsa are taking steps towards better housing conditions, […]
Bulgaria can go further to enhance long-term care for older people and secure housing for Roma communities07.07.2026-Strasbourg, 6 July 2026 – The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, conducted a visit to Bulgaria from 29 June to 3 July 2026. The visit focused on the human rights of older persons living in long-term care facilities, as part of the Commissioner’s broader engagement on this issue across Council of Europe […]
From informal settlements to secure homes: what Bulgaria learned from Romania29.04.2026-April 21–23, 2026, Bulgaria–Romania: Institutions and municipalities exchanged best practices for transforming informal settlements into sustainable and safe communities. How can unregulated neighborhoods be turned into secure and dignified places to live? And how can national and local authorities join forces to break the long-standing cycle of poverty? These questions were at the heart of […]
Minister Nikolay Naydenov: It is imperative to immediately start working on a new National Housing Strategy22.04.2026-The elaboration of the new national housing strategy of Bulgaria is to be commissioned. In the assignment for this strategy, we will focus on the problems regarding social housing and neighbourhoods, defined by data and research – socio-economic, statistical, spatial, territorial-structural, sociological, financial and successful practices. This was announced by the Minister of Regional Development […]
Guidebook on Best Practices towards the reduction of energy poverty and firewood use22.11.2024-Action C8 of the LIFE BioBalance project and Activity AIII.1 of the BioJust project focused on demonstrating and evidencing solutions to increase the capacity and knowledge of low-income rural communities to reduce firewood-dependency. The Action consisted of three main elements: ● Research on energy poverty and household biomass use – Fuel of the Poor study. […]
In a number of places in Bulgaria the organization Habitat for Humanity with the help of volunteers builds houses for poor families. Mincho Benov is in charge and he has also started a programme in which micro-loans are offered to families in need of renovation their home. See how this is done in the video below.
Change Begins with a Conversation: One Year of HOME EQUALS in Bulgaria23.07.2026-What happens when residents, local authorities, professionals and young people come together to imagine a better future for their neighbourhood? In Bulgaria, the answer is beginning to take shape. One year into the “HOME EQUALS – Improving Housing Conditions in Informal Settlements” project, communities in Kyustendil and Berkovitsa are taking steps towards better housing conditions, […]
Bulgaria: Renovating the unfit housing stock / Feantsa case Study #218.11.2023-More than 19.2 million people in Europe, 4.2% of the total population, were experiencing severe housing deprivation in 2020. Unfit housing has a dramatic affect on the health and wellbeing of households, from physical affects such as respiratory infections and asthma, or the danger of the physical collapse of buildings, and mental toll resulting in […]
Housing without a future?14.03.2022-Has the housing stock in Bulgaria been managed properly? Who should support it? A national housing strategy for 2018-2030 was drafted in 2018, but it has not yet been adopted. Learn more about Habitat Bulgaria’s recommendations for improving the local housing policies and practices in the video below. Habitat Bulgaria is implementing the project „Research […]
Bulgarian textile insulation saves harmful emissions and money. „Inovativno“, BNT208.12.2021-The project for the development of an industrial facility for the production of thermal insulation of recycled textiles supported by the VELUX Foundations, has been promoted by the Bulgarian National Television. For the invented thermal insulation product, the company was honored with the Grand Invention of 2015 by the Union of Inventors in Bulgaria during […]
Change Begins with a Conversation: One Year of HOME EQUALS in Bulgaria23.07.2026-What happens when residents, local authorities, professionals and young people come together to imagine a better future for their neighbourhood? In Bulgaria, the answer is beginning to take shape. One year into the “HOME EQUALS – Improving Housing Conditions in Informal Settlements” project, communities in Kyustendil and Berkovitsa are taking steps towards better housing conditions, […]
Bulgaria: Renovating the unfit housing stock / Feantsa case Study #218.11.2023-More than 19.2 million people in Europe, 4.2% of the total population, were experiencing severe housing deprivation in 2020. Unfit housing has a dramatic affect on the health and wellbeing of households, from physical affects such as respiratory infections and asthma, or the danger of the physical collapse of buildings, and mental toll resulting in […]
Housing without a future?14.03.2022-Has the housing stock in Bulgaria been managed properly? Who should support it? A national housing strategy for 2018-2030 was drafted in 2018, but it has not yet been adopted. Learn more about Habitat Bulgaria’s recommendations for improving the local housing policies and practices in the video below. Habitat Bulgaria is implementing the project „Research […]
Bulgarian textile insulation saves harmful emissions and money. „Inovativno“, BNT208.12.2021-The project for the development of an industrial facility for the production of thermal insulation of recycled textiles supported by the VELUX Foundations, has been promoted by the Bulgarian National Television. For the invented thermal insulation product, the company was honored with the Grand Invention of 2015 by the Union of Inventors in Bulgaria during […]
Change Begins with a Conversation: One Year of HOME EQUALS in Bulgaria23.07.2026-What happens when residents, local authorities, professionals and young people come together to imagine a better future for their neighbourhood? In Bulgaria, the answer is beginning to take shape. One year into the “HOME EQUALS – Improving Housing Conditions in Informal Settlements” project, communities in Kyustendil and Berkovitsa are taking steps towards better housing conditions, […]
Bulgaria: Renovating the unfit housing stock / Feantsa case Study #218.11.2023-More than 19.2 million people in Europe, 4.2% of the total population, were experiencing severe housing deprivation in 2020. Unfit housing has a dramatic affect on the health and wellbeing of households, from physical affects such as respiratory infections and asthma, or the danger of the physical collapse of buildings, and mental toll resulting in […]
Housing without a future?14.03.2022-Has the housing stock in Bulgaria been managed properly? Who should support it? A national housing strategy for 2018-2030 was drafted in 2018, but it has not yet been adopted. Learn more about Habitat Bulgaria’s recommendations for improving the local housing policies and practices in the video below. Habitat Bulgaria is implementing the project „Research […]
Bulgarian textile insulation saves harmful emissions and money. „Inovativno“, BNT208.12.2021-The project for the development of an industrial facility for the production of thermal insulation of recycled textiles supported by the VELUX Foundations, has been promoted by the Bulgarian National Television. For the invented thermal insulation product, the company was honored with the Grand Invention of 2015 by the Union of Inventors in Bulgaria during […]
Change Begins with a Conversation: One Year of HOME EQUALS in Bulgaria 23.07.2026 - What happens when residents, local authorities, professionals and young people come together to imagine a better future for their neighbourhood? In Bulgaria, the answer is beginning to take shape. One year into the “HOME EQUALS – Improving Housing Conditions in Informal Settlements” project, communities in Kyustendil and Berkovitsa are taking steps towards better housing conditions, […]
Bulgaria: Renovating the unfit housing stock / Feantsa case Study #2 18.11.2023 - More than 19.2 million people in Europe, 4.2% of the total population, were experiencing severe housing deprivation in 2020. Unfit housing has a dramatic affect on the health and wellbeing of households, from physical affects such as respiratory infections and asthma, or the danger of the physical collapse of buildings, and mental toll resulting in […]
Habitat for Humanity Bulgaria launches Home Equals campaign in support of people living in informal settlements around the world 16.05.2023 - Habitat for Humanity Bulgaria and our partners around the world today launched a five-year campaign, called Home Equals, seeking policy changes at the local, national and global levels to increase access to adequate housing for people living in informal settlements. As part of the Home Equals campaign, Habitat Bulgaria is advocating for informal settlement upgrading […]
Video of the conference „Policies for improvement of the housing conditions of vulnerable groups on municipal and natiоnal level“ 27.05.2022 - On April 14th, 2022 Habitat Bulgaria hosted the conference „Policies for improvement of the housing conditions of vulnerable groups on municipal and natiоnal level“. The agenda covered housing related issues on local, national and global level. Habitat Bulgaria raised pressing issues like the fact that Bulgaria still hasn’t adopted a National Housing Strategy, and that […]
Housing without a future? 14.03.2022 - Has the housing stock in Bulgaria been managed properly? Who should support it? A national housing strategy for 2018-2030 was drafted in 2018, but it has not yet been adopted. Learn more about Habitat Bulgaria’s recommendations for improving the local housing policies and practices in the video below. Habitat Bulgaria is implementing the project „Research […]
Bulgarian textile insulation saves harmful emissions and money. „Inovativno“, BNT2 08.12.2021 - The project for the development of an industrial facility for the production of thermal insulation of recycled textiles supported by the VELUX Foundations, has been promoted by the Bulgarian National Television. For the invented thermal insulation product, the company was honored with the Grand Invention of 2015 by the Union of Inventors in Bulgaria during […]
