Social housing in Bulgaria - Case studies and report

Study and analysis of legislation and existing studies in the field of social assistance and social services, and recommendations for legislative changes with a view to improving access to housing as a social service in Bulgaria and beyond.

This report is the result of a study conducted within the framework of the European Commission and Council of Europe ROMACT Programme. The study was conducted through desk research and analysis of the legal framework between March and August 2024.

The aim of the report is to assist decision-makers at national level by examining the state and implementation of social housing policies in Bulgaria and making recommendations for improving access to adequate housing. The report examines the issue of social housing in a European and national context and analyses existing practices and problems. It notes that social housing is recognised as a fundamental
human right by the European Parliament and the European Social Charter, playing a key role in the fight against poverty and social exclusion. The right to access housing is guaranteed by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU, but in Bulgaria this right is not explicitly established in the Constitution. In European documents, social housing is seen as an investment rather than an expense,
with long-term benefits for society.