At the beginning of October we helped Szamil’s family of 3 to move into an affordable flat rented via the Social Rental Enterprise. The flat was lacking equipment so we started to collect necessary tools such as furniture or kitchenware. We managed to get everything needed and we are thankful to all those who got involved in the collection!
ABOUT THE FAMILY
The family comes from Chechenia and is applying for refugee status in Poland. Szamil works in a supermarket, his cousin, Ismail, helps on construction sites and Szamil’s mother, Laila, currently doesn’t work due to health problems. The family has a stable but humble income that do not allow to rent a flat on market rates.
WHERE DID THE FAMILY LIVE BEFORE?
Before the family became member of our program called the Social Rental Enterprise, they rented a small room of a very low standard. Laila describes their former flat as follows :
It is even hard to call our previous place a flat. It was a room accessible from outside directly via a backyard. There was no corridor. We slept and cooked there and in the corner there was a small bathroom cavity. Mold was everywhere, above the door, on the floor, in the cupboard and in the bathroom. The water was expensive and the bills inadequate to reality. We paid monthly for a 14 m2 room about 1600 Polish zlotys. Our clothes badly smelled mold and humidity.
WHERE DOES THE FAMILY LIVE NOW?
We helped the family to move into a tidy 2 rooms flat. The flat belongs to a private person and the rent is lower than the market rate thanks to rent via the Social Rental Enterprise. In exchange for the rent reduction, the Enterprise guarantees keeping the flat in good condition and regular rent payment.
The family is happy to live in decent conditions. Laila says :
It is different to live here. The entrance leads to a clean and warm staircase, there is a corridor, a beautiful kitchen and a bathroom. The flat is twice as big as the previous one, there are 2 rooms which is important because guys are adults. We have comfort, coziness and peace and quiet. The flat is bright, there is no humidity, it is nice.
More information on the Social Rental Enterprise can be found on the program page.
COLLECTION OF EQUIPMENT FOR THE FLAT
The flat that we acquired for Szamil’s family was not equipped so we organized a collection of necessary equipment to allow the family to live a normal life, have a place to sleep, prepare food, etc. The following articles were needed: beds to sleep on, bed linen, kitchenware, a washing machine, chairs, an iron, a table and a cupboard.
The number of responses to our call exceeded our expectations. We managed to obtain everything that was needed and we would like to say a big thank you to all those who decided to support Szamil’s family. We are grateful also to those who helped to publicize the collection and to transport the goods to the flat.
