A new study commissioned by the Council of Europe under the European Union/Council of Europe Joint Programme Roma Integration Phase III reveals that many Roma and Egyptian families in Podgorica continue to live in inadequate and informal housing conditions despite previous national and local efforts to address these challenges.

Conducted in cooperation with the Ministry for Social Welfare, Family Care and Demography of Montenegro and the Capital City of Podgorica, the research covered 172 households (1,021 respondents). It found that households have an average of 5.94 members and that many families face severe poverty. Alarmingly, more than 40% of surveyed families live in completely inadequate housing with poor infrastructure and lack legal residence status or personal documentation, significantly limiting their access to healthcare, social protection and other essential services.

Although 243 housing units were constructed in recent years through IPA-funded projects and the Regional Housing Programme, more than 1,000 Roma and Egyptians in Podgorica still reside in substandard and informal settlements. The study also identifies persistent challenges in education and employment, particularly affecting women and young people.

Based on field research, institutional interviews, demographic surveys and analysis of the legal and urban planning framework, the study provides a comprehensive assessment and proposes concrete, actionable recommendations. These include adapting five existing municipal buildings in the Vrela Ribnička area to provide adequate housing for several dozen families, with an estimated investment of approximately €1.23 million plus VAT. Additional recommendations focus on systematic legal support for residence regularisation and citizenship procedures, strengthening educational inclusion, enhancing women’s economic participation, and improving access to healthcare information.

The findings underline that addressing housing insecurity and social exclusion requires an integrated and sustainable approach involving national authorities, local government, international partners and civil society, supported by clear governance mechanisms and transparent allocation of resources.

For further details, read more about the feasibility study.