Integrated Urban Shelter ProjectAccess to Secure and Adequate Housing for

Syrian Refugees living in Host Communities in Jordan

Contextual Background

• War in Syria entering fourth year with no foreseeable resolution in the near future

• 80% of Syrian refugees in Jordan live outside camps• Disproportionate humanitarian response focusing on camp activities

• Infrastructure within host communities, strained even before Syrian crisis, unable to cope• Rising tensions between host community and refugee population over limited resources• 47% of communities stated conflict over housing as a source of tension

Shelter Challenges in Host Community

• Refugees are unable to pay rent – savings have been depleted, many have accrued high debt and are at risk of exploitation

• Support is needed, but direct rental support (cash-for-rent) may have inflationary effect on market and contribute to host community tensions• Refugees lack security of tenure and standard leases heavily favour landlords, increasing rates and risks of eviction

• Affordable accommodation is often inaccessible to basic essential services, including health and education

• Syrian refugees often do not formalize written leases or register with municipalities

Barriers to Security of Tenure

• Lack of clear information regarding Jordanian landlord-tenant regulations• No coordinated system for monitoring of evictions

• Lack of secure lease may affect refugees ability to obtain legal status and may expose them to exploitation• Refugees reluctant to approach police or courts to assert their rights

Opportunities for Intervention

• Root problem is inadequate number of shelters available for growing needs amongst Syrians and Jordanians• Unfinished buildings are common in Jordan. Incremental construction is done as money is available and new apartments generally kept within family and provided to adult children • Banks offer loans at high interest rates and home loans or mortgages are uncommon

Shelter Approach - Simplified

• “Advertise” need for unfinished buildings within local community and owners contact NRC through hotline• NRC teams visit properties to determine suitability and technical team prepare BoQ

• Assessment and selection of Syrian families based on vulnerability criteria and referrals from UNHCR/INGOS

• Engineers follow-up through implementation and confirm when property completed and can move in

• Conditional payments up to 2,000 USD maximum provided in installments

• Lease agreements prepared and signed by landlord and tenants for between 12 to 18 months

ICLA Approach - Simplified

• Handover of cases from Shelter following move-in• ICLA case managers conduct outreach visits during first month and distribute one-time moving cash grants

• Information and counselling on access to essential services, legal status and other protection issues

• Case managers trained in mediation to be able to resolve disputes between landlord and tenants

• Follow-up visits with both landlord and tenants conducted every two months for duration of lease

• Housing, land and property (HLP) legal guidance and support to NRC Shelter and external shelter actors

Since Urban Shelter programme began in July 2013:

Programme To Date

• 658 contracts signed

• 1,370 housing units completed

• 4,445 Syrian refugees moved into new shelter

• 681 cash grants distributed

• 1,797 outreach visits• 484 information and

counselling services provided

Urban Shelter Funding Breakdown

• Funding for Urban Shelter programme currently provided by BPRM, DFID, ECHO, CIDA and UNHCR• Additional funding for current ICLA activities through SIDA and NMFA

• Current humanitarian funding focus, though may shift

DFID JOFS1308

BPRM JOFS1307

ECHO JOFS1304

CIDA JOFS1402

UNHCR JOFS1403

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

Progress per Donor (HUs) - April

Completed Target Committed HU

Next Steps

• Geographic expansion into Jerash, Ajloun and potentially Zarqa by end-2014

• Group information sessions on HLP and civil documentation issues through NGOs, CBOs and NRC Drop-In Centre

• Improving host community-refugee relations by working with mukhtars and community leaders• Further development and dissemination of HLP guidance as Shelter Working Group co-lead• Undertake research on women’s HLP rights amongst Syrian refugees

Contact Us

Robert Beer – Interim Country Director079 572 4278

robert.beer@nrc.no

Questions?