Sustainable cities for the poorest: the case of Roma minority in Bucharest by Catalina Turcu

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1 Sustainable cities for the poorest: the case of Roma minority in Bucharest by Catalina Turcu UN HABITAT World Urban Forum Barcelona September 2004

2 FACTS between 7 and 8.5 million Roma people throughout Europe: Europe s largest minority group 60% of the contemporary Roma population is sedentary; 20% nomadic; 20% semi-nomadic 70% located in Eastern Europe and Former Soviet Union today, 80% of Roma are found in urban areas or on the edge of urban areas Roma are less likely to have access to water and sanitation than other disadvantaged groups and only 24% have access to public water facilities in some areas, poverty rates for Roma are more than 10 times those of non-roma

3 Statistics Roma populations throughout Europe Country Minimum Maximum 1. Romania 1,800,000 2,500, Bulgaria 700, , Spain 650, , Hungary 550, , Slovakia 480, , Turkey 300, , Serbia-Montenegro 400, , Russia 220, , France 280, , Czech Republic 250, ,000 Source:Jean Pierre Liegeois and Nicolae Gheorghe (1995), Roma/ Gypsies: An European Minority; Minority Rights Group, London, pp.7

4 Discrimination Roma have faced continuous mistrust, rejection and exclusion, since their arrival in Europe 500 years ago 1496 German Edict: Roma people traitors to Christianity 1504 Louis XII forbade them from entering France Until ca 1850 slaves in Romania Early 1990s wall around the Roma community in the town of Usti Nad Laben, Check Republic Nowadays on the Russian Internet anti-roma literature HOUSING- marginalisation from mainstream society continues through their 'ghettoisation' in substandard housing complexes on the outskirts of cities

5 Roma settlements in East Europe DOs Integrated new housing developments (self-help) eg. Slovakia (Kremnica); Hungary (Kiskunhalos) Halting sites and encampments DON Ts Re-location by local authorities Slovakia (1995); Czech Republic (1997 today); Slovakia ( ); Spain (1990s) Halting sites and encampments Bad design and services Surrounded by a wall or a fence

6 Roma in Romania/ Bucharest Between 1.8 and 2.5 millions; 80% in urban areas The Roma White Paper Roma integration as a criteria for becoming a member of the EU main priorities: security of tenure/ sustainable regeneration/ affordable housing/ funding HOUSING Location Rural: outside the village, as a minority Urban: living together with the dominant community in small groups 3.03p/room compared to the 1.29p/room (national average) in more then 10% of families, 5 or more people live in one room even cases of people in one room

7 The SITUATION Calea Grivitei Regeneration Framework City plan - CITY CONTEXT - the Mahala - Ottoman inheritance - LOCAL AREA - Mahalaua Buzestilor - concentration of deprivation; social tensions; physical decline; home for disadvantaged groups such as the Roma, prostitutes, street children. - FORECASTS - Plans for massive clearance - URBAN Framework EU/SOROS funding - regeneration engine

8 Calea Grivitei Regeneration Framework The SITUATION - LOCAL COMMUNITY - impoverished mass of people - strong community networks - unemployment - informal activities - SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONTEXT - homes above shops, local craftsmanship and small scale trade activities - informal activities/ Gypsies Mafia ; - LEGAL CONTEXT: - tenure status - Roma families suffer from insecurity of tenure/ no legal status - POLICY CONTEXT - clearance and change of use

9 Calea Grivitei Regeneration Framework The PROBLEM NO official data about the number of Roma inhabitants on the street NO official data about their legal/ tenure status NO official plan for rehousing/ relocating people tensions between the local community and the Municipality; NO involvement of the local community; NO transparency Roma NGOs located in the area are militating against public/ any kind of intervention saying that this is an organised action to displace and then abandon the Roma families

10 Calea Grivitei Regeneration Framework The 10 houses analysis; site visits; the observation method (photos and personal notes) - general impression of poverty and unemployment, but lively street activity and informal market - litter and poor environment but no empty buildings - only 2 of the 10 houses have no commercial ground floor; total of 15 small shops - 6 Roma shop assistants - local and small-scale commerce: low quality and second hand goods; hand made goods; minor repairs and alterations; art crafts - 6 of the 10 houses have gangways which drive you to second row of houses at the rear - difficult and unsafe access - DAYTIME: street dominated by non-roma people doing their shopping - NIGHT TIME; street dominated by Roma people; street children and prostitutes

11 Calea Grivitei Regeneration Framework The SOLUTION for better and sustainable future development Economic regularise informal street market activities and recognise their importance; new regeneration initiative to provide employment opportunities that match Roma s skills Social/ Cultural organise a local Roma festival which will bring social and cultural integration and recognition Participation involve local community i.e. bottom-up initiatives Environment improve local parks, squares, streets Housing tackle overcrowding by providing the right housing provision Wider implications