The UN-HABITAT SIRP program in Serbia provides three models of small housing loans to support vulnerable groups: (1) Loans up to $161 for construction materials, (2) Loans up to $4,000 to complete unfinished homes for rental, and (3) Grants up to $2,000 for bathrooms/toilets for poor Roma families. Eligible beneficiaries are refugees, IDPs, low-income locals. The program aims to improve housing conditions through capacity building of local authorities and communities to organize microcredit schemes.

1. UN-HABITAT SIRP Three models of small housing loans ZLATA VUKSANOVIC-MACURA UN-HABITAT, Housing Coordinetor of the Settlement and Integration of Refugees Programme in Serbia (SIRP) Exploring Opportunities for Improving Housing Microfinance Services for Roma 12 -13 April 2007, Skopje, Macedonia

6. Parts of alternative housing solutions are the small loans and grants to vulnerable households Three different models have bee developed Three models of UN-HABITAT SIRP small housing loans No No $ 96 to 161 8% In kind $5,000 50% 4 months 50-10 years $10,000 Refugees, IDPs, local population Loans No No $ 28 to 49 6% In-kind $ 2,000 50% 4 months 50-10 years $ 4,000 Refugees Local population Loans Yes Yes - - In-kind 100% - - $ 2,000 Poor Roma families Grants Support Programmes Technical assistance to beneficiaries Repayment per months Inters rate Beneficiaries Contribution Subsidies Grace period Repayment period Maximal loan/grant size ($) Beneficiaries Model