The INPUT Youth Centre from Zenica has launched the “My First Roof” initiative, aiming to establish, in cooperation with the City of Zenica, a financial support programme for young people purchasing or building their first home. The initiative seeks to encourage the allocation of dedicated funds in the city budget to provide young people with tangible assistance in resolving their housing needs.

High property prices, insufficient income and difficult access to housing loans represent significant obstacles to independence for many young people. Even those who are employed and have regular incomes often struggle to afford their first apartment or house. As a result, they postpone becoming independent and starting a family, while some consider leaving Zenica.

“Today, we have young people who work, want to start families and stay in Zenica, but are finding it increasingly difficult to afford their own apartment or house. Many save for years, while property prices continue to rise. That is precisely why we launched this initiative. Together with the City of Zenica, we want to find a way to make it at least a little easier for young people to resolve their first housing issue,” representatives of the INPUT Youth Centre stated.

The aim is for the City of Zenica to introduce a programme through which young people could receive financial assistance when purchasing or building their first property. This could take the form of direct financial support, co-financing a portion of the costs or assistance with repaying a housing loan. Discussions with young people and the relevant city departments will help determine the most appropriate model.

In the coming period, the INPUT Youth Centre will collect feedback from young people, hold discussions with representatives of the City Administration and the Zenica City Council, and work on developing the “My First Roof” programme proposal. The programme would include a dedicated budget allocation and clearly defined eligibility criteria for awarding financial assistance through a public call.

The INPUT Youth Centre invites young people from Zenica to share their experiences, challenges and suggestions, and to express what kind of support would be most beneficial to them. Their input will serve as an important foundation for designing the “My First Roof” programme and presenting it to the relevant city institutions.