The Marker, Gili Melnicki 29.03.2020

The sheltered housing estates throughout Israel, where nearly 40,000 elderly people live, have been in almost complete closure for three weeks. Except for employees, food and equipment deliveries, and exceptional visits - no departures and no arrivals. The reason is clear: The elderly population is the most vulnerable to the global spread of the corona virus. "Our job today is much deeper than the basic needs of roofing or corona protection, which is a challenging task in itself," says Yuval Frankel, CEO of Amigur's 18-year-old company. .

"The biggest difficulty of tenants is the loneliness, which is true at two in this period," explains Frankel. "When it comes to immigrant population - with language gaps and families who sometimes live abroad - it's very evident.Residents with professions and professions are considered to be from the Soviet Union - including Red Army generals and professors - and today they find themselves below the poverty line, with no assets or pensions. 30% of them are urban, 70% are defined as Holocaust survivors, and all rely on the assistance of the Ministry of Construction and Housing and the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption. "

Amigur is a Jewish Agency Asset Management Company and serves as the Agency's executive arm for project management, particularly in the areas of protected and public housing. She manages about 20,000 apartments - most of them public housing for the third age. In addition, it holds public housing for the general population, along with absorption centers and student dormitories.

Living in the seniors involves paying rent ranging from 8% to 10% of Social Security or any other income of the tenant (NIS 300–400 on average).

Yuval Frankel, CEO of Amigur Photo: Eliyahu Hershkowitz

"Local authorities are approaching us and want to give us municipal land so we can set up and run projects on it," Frankel says. "We are negotiating with the Petah Tikva municipality, for example, where the municipality wants to address 200 eligible sheltered housing from the city. This is a step that can serve as an economic model for other authorities."

Are there any municipalities who do not want to promote projects in their territory?

"Yes. Alongside municipalities like Tel Aviv and Ashkelon who are committed to the cause and helping, there are cities that did not like the project for all sorts of reasons. Some told me they did not want to bear the burden of third-age services and the image of a poor and weak population, some said it was uncomfortable for them politically and there is between "The Soviet immigrants only vote for a certain kind, which doesn't work out for them. Others told me it would lower the level."

In Herzliya you are building right off the coast, and the opposition to construction has come to the door of the local committee.

"In Herzliya we are building a prime location - second line for Acadia - 111 new housing units, and people will pay NIS 300-400 per apartment per month. There has been opposition from residents who say they do not want elderly residents. Treasury Director General Shai Babad sent A letter on the subject, and then-Director General of the Housing Ministry, Hagai Reznik, came to the committee and explained the issue there. By the way, in every city we come to, we give priority to the local eligible and always solve their problems first. In Kiryat Ono and Kfar Saba we were happy to promote solutions to welfare problems and we accommodated the projects there to zero and within three days. "

The Tel Aviv Peace Road criticized the project for adding more than 200 sheltered housing units - the construction was done without evacuating the older tenants. These are single immigrants who have no connections and money. A terrible way to end your life that way. "

"We proposed to anyone who is interested in moving to another building, but only one or two have chosen it. Even today, every apartment that is vacated - is occupied immediately. We also went for cultural activities to make it easier for tenants. We offered volcanic tours and other activities.

Supply of Amigur's sheltered housing, during the Corona Photo: Courtesy of Amigur

"Another action we did at our expense was to cut the rent in half for the entire construction period, because the builders are right around them. It's an assumption that is worth hundreds of thousands of shekels a year. Beyond that, the old house is also undergoing extensive renovation and has been renovated as fifty apartments, costing about six million shekels "We are sorry for the inconvenience caused to tenants and make every effort to relieve them. The matter has been reported to the Ministry of Housing and the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption, and we have been asked to continue working fully."

Where are there more land for development?

"We have land where rights can be maximized and used, in Tel Aviv and Haifa (in Beit Abba Khushi). We have lands in retirement nationwide from Nahariya to the Negev."

"Essential to the economy"

And how does the company manage to operate the sheltered housing during the Corona crisis? Frankel explains that today it is precisely the human issues, and not the real estate, that pose a major challenge. “There are 34 choirs who cannot meet for rehearsals in three weeks. The occupants are waiting for these meetings and now is a difficult time. In the days of Corona, the elderly mainly go out to the balconies and corridors, and simply sing together as a replacement. We brought a performance to the yard a few days ago, and people stood two meters away, peering out of the balconies and windows, listening and singing.

With regard to the difficulty in operating the homes for the elderly, Frankel points out that over the past three weeks, Amigore has increased activity.

"Last week if one house coughed up and with heat, we immediately demanded that they come and check it. We were happy to find it clean," says Frankel. "If it was found that she was ill, the building would have to be completely closed, and we are also preparing for this scenario. We will assist the Home Front Command if necessary.

"But it should be noted: In our homes, 4,000 to 5,000 social security workers are working, and none of them have stopped coming. No one has hesitated. We were defined as essential to the economy from the beginning, and our employees - including staff - work overtime and weekends."

Significant resources

In their last term, the finance and housing ministers, for the first time in years, devoted significant resources to the needy populations of public housing.This, after waiting lists in the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption and the Ministry of Housing, grew, and in 2018 reached 27,000 eligible people waiting for an apartment.

"In the last term, the state has done something it has not done since 2003, and has begun building housing units for public housing and senior citizens in public housing," says Frankel. "The Minister of Construction and Housing, Yifat Shasbitton is in contact with me almost daily, and the head of housing, Ze'ev Bielski, calls every time a permit or something else is delayed, to make sure there is a solution."

However, when asked if planning for 2,500 apartments will be enough after years of shortages, he hesitates: "Obviously, a bigger response needs to be made, and we must continue to work. The last term marked a positive change of direction and a government saying: I will not abandon my weak population. Before the Corona we were asked to submit plans and proposals for the construction of a thousand more apartments and I hope that will be implemented. "