Bureaucracy and procrastination at the expense of the evicted tenants: A
month has passed since the collapse of the building on Serlin Street in Holon and the occupants of the building, such as those of the nearby building that partially collapsed and its occupants were evicted, claim all promises made by government and authority have not materialized.
As you may recall, dozens of families were evacuated after one building collapsed and the other partially collapsed in the city.
About two weeks later, the Holon municipality announced that it would give each family evicted from its home a grant of NIS 5,000, with NIS 3,000 from the municipality's budget, a NIS 1,000 donation from the Rami Levy network in cooperation with the Holon parent leadership and another NIS 1,000 semi-free.
Following the mayor's request to a number of guest house owners, families who had difficulty finding accommodation arrangements in the immediate term, could choose to live until the end of the holiday period free of charge in guest rooms in several places in the country, in accordance with Holon Municipality Welfare Services.
Tenants evacuate from the building in Holon, Photo: Photo: Gideon Markovich
The municipality also announced that the Holon Economic Development Company had been instructed to accompany the tenants to select a representative on their behalf in order to promote a city building plan that would allow for quick evacuation.
The mayor held a meeting a week ago and asked for the approval of the council for budgeting five million shekels for the issue - three million for planning and issuing permits and two million shekels for checking all the lighting, signage and traffic signs in the city.
The mayor, Moti Sasson, said that "understanding the enormous difficulty - financial, personal and family that the apartment owners in Sarlin are in, I found it appropriate to take it upon themselves to advance the issue of construction so that they can live in their own home as soon as possible. It is added to the line of responses given by the municipality in the short term, such as financial grants, housing solutions for the holiday period, accompaniment of social facts for families, harnessing government ministries for assistance and more. "
The Ministry of Housing stated before the holidays that the Minister of Construction and Housing, Zeev Elkin, placed on the mayor's desk an assistance package that includes financial assistance for rent to residents, in the interim period and in accordance with eligibility criteria.
It was further stipulated that immediately after the holiday period, representatives of the municipality will be in contact with the tenants regarding this matter.
The building that collapsed in Holon, Photo: Photo: Firefighters
The money did not arrive
But now the tenants claim that the promises were probably on paper.
"To date, we have not received a penny. We held a protest demonstration in front of the city hall and asked the Treasury to release the money. We were told there was a legal problem approving the grants and therefore the financial aid package did not pass," they said.
They added that "some rented apartments because they had savings and help, but the majority live with relatives. From the building that did not completely collapse, people brought cranes at their expense, demanding thousands of shekels from them while taking advantage of distress, and evacuating property. "He did not do that because a large part of the tenants no one bothered to inform and it became known by word of mouth. The inaction cries to heaven, the bureaucracy kills us and there is no one to take command and help."
Meanwhile, a number of tenants claimed that the initial grant did go to them, but in part.
"It was not even enough for rent because the majority went to groceries, clothes, etc., since we were left without clothing, not to mention families with children who were also left without school supplies and the like," they noted.
Livnat and Sylvan Sharvit, who lost all their property in a collapsed building where they lived in rent, say there is no real body to help them: "My mother, a very old woman, had to withdraw the pension money my father left after his death and gave it to us," Livnat says.
"We have so far spent tens of thousands of shekels to rent an apartment, buy basic furniture such as a bed, refrigerator and utensils and pay rent and down payment. There are people here who have taken a lot of money from transportation, cranes and more. Take advantage of everyone's situation. "We were given the promised grant. The feeling is that we are not interested in anyone and everything that was said was a show to the media. We lost everything and no one is helping."
State Comptroller Engelman at the scene of the fall of the building in Holon, Photo: Gideon Markovich
What about compensation?
From a conversation with tenants, it emerged that only three of the apartment owners received compensation because they were insured and others are still dealing with the insurance companies.
In addition, some homeowners continue to pay mortgages, despite the demolition of the building.
According to the banks, it is not possible to approve a cessation of payments because it is not a death or collapse as a result of a natural disaster, in which case there is state intervention.
The tenants then continue to pay for a house that does not exist.
Another problem is the situation of tenants, who are not entitled to any compensation.
A., a tenant in the building, said: "I was left with nothing but material help and equipment from good people who organized in the city of donations. Now I have started recruiting masses for donations. It is not easy to go to a party asking for help. Any help will be blessed."
So far, about 180 people have donated small sums that together amount to a few thousand shekels for the building's occupants.
No comment has been received from the Holon Municipality and the Ministry of Housing so far.
