Within the framework of ‘Our Gyumri’ program of the ‘Hayastan’ All-Armenian Fund, the construction of two apartment buildings and a kindergarten for 50 children has started in Gyumri. About 40 families’ housing problem living in shacks after the 1988 earthquake will be solved. They will start a new life in comfortable and furnished apartments.
According to the decision of Gyumri City Council, 5,800 square meters of land has been provided in Mush-2 district for the program implementation, the total area of the constructions and buildings is 4,200 square meters. Green area will be created to serve other residents of the district.
Gyumri Mayor Samvel Balasanyan highlighted the implementation of this housing program, which is another step towards getting rid of the earthquake consequences.
“There are various charitable programs in the city, but our goal is to be able to accommodate people living in shacks in special apartments. ‘Hayastan’ All-Armenian Fund presented a very interesting program, which we approved. Currently the construction works are going on successfully,” said Balasanyan.
The beneficiaries will be selected mainly from socially vulnerable residents in cooperation with Gyumri Municipality and Shirak provincial government.
“We have a huge list of beneficiaries who applied to the Fund over the years. During a year and half, we will do a thorough and careful work to fully study the list of beneficiaries and provide apartments to those who need them most,” Haykak Arshamyan, Executive Director of the ‘Hayastan’ All-Armenian Fund, said.
The apartments and the kindergarten will be powered by solar power, which will help cut the electricity costs for the residents. The installation of solar panels on the roofs will be carried out within the framework of the ‘Hayastan’ All-Armenian Fund programs.
The problem of employment of the residents of the area will also be solved. There will be studios in the attics of the buildings, where specialists from different sectors will organize trainings for the residents, giving them the opportunity to get a new profession or work.
The buildings are expected to be exploited in mid-2022. According to Haykak Arshamyan, the ‘Our Gyumri’ program was to kick-off last September, however the war postponed the competition announcement and the construction. “Hopefully, everything goes as planned, the result will not make wait long,” added the Executive Director of the Fund.
It is planned to make this housing program continuous, gradually getting rid of the shacks.
‘Hayastan’ All-Armenian Fund provided families who lost their houses in 1988 earthquake with over 45 apartments in 2012-2019.