On Thursday 13 July, with a Syrian refugee family in Bech-Kleinmacher, Caritas Luxembourg presented its project "Neien Ufank", a special framework for an ambitious project to support 120 refugee families in their integration into Luxemourg society.
Caritas Luxembourg aims to act on several levels and in a transversal way. First, access to housing for refugees. Housing is an important factor in integration because it determines where the refugee will be able to build his or her social life. However, the housing market is difficult. As part of the "Neien Ufank" project, Caritas Luxembourg is looking for owners willing to provide unoccupied housing at a social price in order to allow a family of refugees to start a new life. In return, Caritas Luxembourg proposes to be the tenant who will sign the lease, thus guaranteeing the payment of rent and undertakes, in order to honour and maintain the owner's confidence in maintaining the real estate as well as to follow the tenants, both socially and professionally for a complete and successful integration. In addition to these advantages, the owners, by making a social gesture, benefit from a tax exemption of their rental income up to 50%. At the moment, the project launched at the beginning of the year has already managed to find accommodation for 15 refugee families from Syria, Iraq and Eritrea in Dudelange, Luxembourg, Howald, Reisdorf, Remich, Mersch, Troisvierges, Wiltz and Bech-Kleinmacher. They are now living in either apartments or houses, rented by private individuals, municipalities or church bodies.
Another route envisaged by Caritas Luxembourg to ensure that the maximum number of people in need have access to the housing market, whether they are refugees, homeless, poorly housed, etc. The construction of social housing, facilitated by the co-financing of the Ministry of Housing, is already done in Beggen.
In this context, Caritas Luxembourg is open to any proposal for partnerships with municipalities, private developers, investors and individuals.
A second axis of action of the project is the social accompaniment of the refugees so that they participate in the life of their municipality. Caritas Luxembourg assists refugees in this local integration, for example, by presenting them in the neighbourhood, helping them in the municipalities, linking them with schools, local associations, etc.
Finally, the last aspect of the project is the occupational integration of refugees. When applicants for international protection get refugee status, their first wish is to find a job. As part of the "Neien Ufank" project, Caritas Luxembourg proposes to make an inventory of their professional competences and accompanies them with a view to increasing their potential, for example by offering courses or refresher courses, and thus increase their employability. Caritas Luxembourg is also looking for sponsors to make their expertise available to help refugees find employment.
At the launch, Marie-Josée Jacobs, President of Caritas Luxembourg, thanked the National Organization of Secours Grande-Duchesse Charlotte, which fully supported the project. The Syrian family, which hosted the launch event in their new housing, testified to the difficulties encountered in finding affordable housing and the support it received from the Neien Ufank project team, to become installed in the housing, to develop it, but also to integrate in the life of the municipality. This family can finally foresee a better future.
