Balakhadze Family Gets Temporary Relief from Eviction
The Balakhadze family, who live in an apartment on Zandukeli Street in Tbilisi, have been granted a reprieve from eviction by the National Enforcement Bureau. The Bureau said that the parties have been given additional time to reach some kind of agreement. The family had taken a loan of $20,000 from a microfinance organization called Rico Express, which later auctioned off their home and bought it for 17,000 GEL, while the real value of the home is about $100,000. The family claims that they were not properly notified of the court proceedings and that the organization violated their rights.
The Balakhadze family consists of Guja Balakhadze, who works as a courier, his 83-year-old mother, his 55-year-old brother, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia for 30 years, a pregnant daughter with her husband and Guja’s 5-year-old son. They say that they have nowhere else to go and that the apartment is their only place to live. They are among the many Tbilisi residents who are facing eviction due to the housing crisis in the city.
Activists and Supporters Rally Against Evictions and Arrests
The Balakhadze family is not alone in their struggle. Activists and supporters from various social movements and groups have gathered on Zandukeli Street to protest against the evictions and the arrests of two activists who were detained during the eviction of the Khatiashvili family from Kekelidze N1 a few days ago. The activists are Giorgi Khasaia and Akaki Chikobava, who are members of the Voice movement, which advocates for the rights of evicted families and tenants. They are accused of resisting the police and obstructing the enforcement process. They face up to three years in prison if convicted.
The protesters are also demanding the release of the activists and the revision of the legislation that allows the microfinance organizations to seize the properties of the borrowers without proper safeguards and transparency. They say that the current system is unjust and predatory and that it exploits the vulnerable and poor people who have no access to affordable and decent housing. They are calling for a moratorium on evictions and a comprehensive housing policy that would address the housing needs of the population.
Housing Crisis in Tbilisi Worsens Amid Pandemic and Economic Downturn
The housing crisis in Tbilisi has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic downturn that followed. According to the National Statistics Office of Georgia, the average monthly income of a household in Tbilisi in 2023 was 1,387.9 GEL, while the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center was 1,200 GEL. This means that many families spend more than half of their income on rent, leaving little for other expenses. Moreover, the unemployment rate in Tbilisi in 2023 was 15.9%, which is higher than the national average of 12.3%.
The lack of affordable and adequate housing in Tbilisi has also led to the emergence of informal settlements and slums, where people live in precarious and unsafe conditions. According to a report by the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), there are about 140,000 people living in informal settlements in Tbilisi, which account for 10% of the city’s population. These settlements lack basic services and infrastructure, such as water, sanitation, electricity, and roads. They are also vulnerable to natural disasters, such as floods and landslides.
The report also states that the housing sector in Georgia is dominated by the private market, which is largely unregulated and inaccessible for low-income and marginalized groups. There is no social housing system in the country, and the public housing programs are limited and ineffective. The report recommends that the government should adopt a human rights-based approach to housing and implement a national housing strategy that would ensure the availability, affordability, adequacy, and accessibility of housing for all.
