In recent years, this phrase has become less common in the military than the phrase "housing issue." This makes it all the more interesting to meet someone whose professional responsibility is not only to raise questions about housing for military personnel, but also to find appropriate solutions. Colonel Nikolai ZONOV, Head of the Housing Department of the Ural Military District, shares his insights on how to address the housing problem in the Ural Military District.

- Nikolai Vasilyevich, how has the situation with housing for Ural Military District soldiers changed recently?

- To be honest, it has become more complicated due to the events in the North Caucasus. There have been no significant changes in the financing of housing construction for the military. This is a crucial indicator, as we are building with our own resources. Additionally, there is a significant number of unaccompanied officers and warrant officers. As of January 1, 2023, 4,082 of them were without housing, and 822 were in need of improved living conditions. The majority of these individuals are members of the ground forces and district-level military personnel, with a total of 3,925.

"But as far as I know, the district's CEC, and your department in particular, have been recognized as among the best in the Minister of Defense's directive..."

- Yes, we did a good job with the "Government Housing Certificates" program. We have the highest percentage of certificate sales in the Armed Forces, and the number of certificates as a percentage of the number of homeless people is higher than in other districts...

- How is this expressed in numbers?

- Through the state housing certificates, we have received 525 apartments for military personnel who are being discharged. This is a really good result. The Chelyabinsk region has the highest number of certificates that have been sold. There, 221 apartments have been purchased. Kurgan also has a good result, with 106 of the 108 certificates sold. In Tyumen, only 17 certificates were sold, but 16 of them were used to purchase apartments. In Yekaterinburg, only 42 of the 57 certificates were sold. In terms of percentage, this is not the worst indicator either, but... This situation in the district city is due to the higher cost of housing. And, to be honest, to a somewhat different attitude of the authorities towards the implementation of this program than, for example, in Chelyabinsk. There, the governor personally keeps the solution of this problem under control. And the mayor of Chelyabinsk takes an active part in the solution of the program.

- So, if I understand you correctly, the "Government Housing Certificates" program is the best answer to the housing crisis?

- There's no doubt about it. This program has a bright future ahead of it. Most importantly, people have sensed this. Initially, people were skeptical about the certificates, thinking they were just "another voucher," but once the first recipients received their apartments, people's perception changed. The arrival of Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Khristenko in the Urals to present the certificates played a significant role. People believed that the Deputy Prime Minister would not present an "empty piece of paper." And indeed, this proved to be the case. In Chelyabinsk, all the officers who received certificates from him were able to purchase good apartments through a financial construction company. Moreover, we have many applications for certificates today. However, only one-tenth of the required number of certificates is allocated each year. Last year, out of 650 applications, only 54 were approved. This year, the number of applications is the same, but only 16 certificates have been issued so far. Once again, the issue is funding.

- In addition, there is another problem. Today, the funds included in each certificate are

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they are not enough to buy a good apartment...

- This problem exists, but not everywhere. Indeed, each personal certificate includes the cost of one square meter of housing at 3,500 rubles. In Yekaterinburg, the cost is approaching 6,000 rubles, while in Tyumen and Chelyabinsk, it is slightly lower. However, in the regional cities of Alapaevsk, Beryozovsk, Verkhnyaya Pyshma, and even Nizhny Tagil and Kamensk-Uralsk, the cost is only 2,000-3,000 rubles per square meter. We have repeatedly appealed to the Ministry of Defense with proposals to reallocate funds in order to be able to provide the certificate with the actual cost of housing. In addition, the officer who receives the certificate is placed in a strict time and other framework. For example, they cannot use the certificate to pay extra money for exchanging a smaller apartment for a larger one, but instead have to rent out a two-bedroom apartment and then purchase a three-bedroom apartment. However, the funds from the certificate are only sufficient for a two-bedroom apartment. Here is another example from practice. The certificate does not allow the purchase of an apartment smaller than 60 square meters. Here in Yekaterinburg, there was a case when an officer - the owner of the certificate found an apartment in 59 meters, and the bank, despite the officer's receipt that he would have no claims against anyone and that the apartment found was completely satisfied, refused to pay for it until the officer re-signed the contract, having paid for the additional room already from his own pocket. I want to note that in large cities, officers often take such a step, because they simply have no other hopes for obtaining housing. To use a certificate to buy decent housing, many people have to sell their cars and garages...

- And yet you insist that certificates are the future?

- Yes. I am convinced of this. Today, in large cities, it is much more cost-effective not to build housing using military construction workers, but to purchase it through certificates. The military construction complex, with the forgiveness of my fellow construction workers, is effective in small garrisons, where the construction of a single housing unit solves all housing problems. In Yekaterinburg, one square meter of housing built by military construction workers is currently one and a half times more expensive than a "civilian" square meter. Direct financing of apartment purchases will be much more cost-effective for the country's budget and individual officers and warrant officers. Most importantly, the housing program will be implemented more quickly.

- Nikolai Vasilyevich, how serious is the problem of relocating people who have lost contact with the army from closed military towns?

- The problem remains serious today. However, the first step towards solving it has been taken. Last year, a house was built in Miass specifically for this purpose. We have managed to relocate 78 families of former military personnel from the towns of Chebarkul, Yelansky, Gagarsky, and Verkhne-Pyshminsky. However, this has not resolved the issue. The situation in the Yelansky garrison is particularly alarming. People have been unable to leave for 10 years or more. Today, we have submitted application lists for 481 people from this category to receive housing certificates. Over the past two years, there have been almost no certificates allocated for those living in closed military towns. The release of living space in these towns will undoubtedly solve the housing problem for young officers and their families, who currently live in well-maintained dormitories.

- Finally, I can't help but ask you about your future plans.

- We have better prospects for housing construction by military contractors than we did last year. 367 apartments will be completed in the district. Of these, 192 will be completed in Yekaterinburg, which is currently facing the most difficult situation. 97 will be completed in Chelyabinsk. In addition, a 24-apartment building is being constructed in Asbest. This construction will reduce the number of homeless people in the Asbest garrison to almost zero. There is also a significant backlog for next year. It is planned to complete 456 apartments. Including 199 in Yekaterinburg, 72 in Shadrinsk, and 120 in Tyumen. In short, if the budgetary financing is normal, we will find the answer to the housing issue.

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