Social Housing in Supportive Environments (SHSE)

The Housing Center is a Serbian non-profit organisation that helps vulnerable people—especially refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs)—find safe, stable homes. Many of these people lived in poor conditions for years, often moving multiple times and lacking access to work, support, or proper housing. Serbia, having hosted hundreds of thousands of displaced people since the early 1990s, has no formal social housing system, making their situation even harder.
To address this, the Housing Center has built 430 new, small apartment buildings across 22 towns. These homes are designed for comfort, accessibility, and a sense of community. Each building includes a “host family”—a trained refugee or IDP who lives there, supports other tenants, and helps create a friendly and stable environment.
The project works closely with local authorities and social work centres. These centres select host families, train them, and provide support for all residents. The program also helps with integration, citizenship, and access to jobs and social services.
The apartments are built using local materials, are energy-efficient, and located near public transport. Residents don’t pay rent, only utility bills, with extra help available for those most in need.
The project has improved the lives of many by offering dignity, safety, and stability. It has influenced national discussions about housing policy and inspired similar projects in other countries. While it faced challenges like a lack of funding, political instability, and social resistance, it proved that with cooperation, even the most vulnerable can find a place to rebuild their lives.