National Organization Mobilizes Homeowners in Russia
Homeowners’ associations are not common in Russia, leaving homeowners vulnerable to rising utility costs or other negative impacts of state reform. New Eurasia Foundation (FNE) is giving a voice to homeowners by institutionalizing the housing management system in Russia through its Housing Self-Governance program. The program encourages the creation of local homeowners’ associations to involve residents in the decision-making processes of their local housing cooperatives.
Earlier this month, FNE and the Ministry of Regional Development founded the National Union for the Development of Homeowners Associations. Following its registration, the Union will bring together representatives from each of its member organizations for its first leadership Congress.
Functioning as an independent public organization, the Union will provide Russian homeowners’ associations with the technical and legal expertise necessary to serve their members. Additionally, the Union will act as a moderator, promoting constructive dialog among the government, businesses and the Union’s constituent associations. All homeowners’ associations seeking to join the Union must be non-profit organizations committed to implementing national housing reforms.
Russian Minister of Regional Development V. A. Yakovlev stressed the importance of such an organization: “[The Union] will [be an] advocate [for] current ideas on an ongoing basis and objectively resist negative actions of local authorities, as well as documents and decisions whose implementation are not realistic.”
