Minister of Housing Ariel Attias, from the Shas Party, changed the criteria for government preference in allocating affordable housing and blocked the chareidi community from its previously advantageous position. Minister Attias announced that point criteria favoring large families will be severely curtailed, and army service will be a new and important factor.
Up until now, the criteria for housing support from the government were heavily based on the size of the families of the couple, the number of children they have and the length of time they were married. Army service was not part of the evaluation.
Under the new approach, the families of the couple will have no bearing, and the weight given to their children will be lowered. "Until today," said Rabbi Avrohom Weber, a chareidi activist, "the point system was based on the socioeconomic level, determined based on the financial pressures they faced, their income and the like. According to the new criteria of Attias, a family of ten that used to be given preference will be at the bottom."
At a press conference today on the affordable housing criteria, Attias said, "A minister sometimes has to act against the interests of his constituents. No preference has been given to families with more than three children, and preference has been given to discharged soldiers. If 200 families are competing for 100 apartments, we will prefer couples with long marriages. There is no discrimination. Most families buy an apartment after seven years of marriage."
At a press conference, Minister Attias added, "A minister sometimes has to act against the interests of his constituents. No preference has been given to families with more than three children, and preference has been given to discharged soldiers. If 200 families are competing for 100 apartments, we will prefer couples with long marriages. There is no discrimination. Most families buy an apartment after seven years of marriage."
