For the first time in Israel: housing for lone soldiers at risk of expulsion from IDF
Labor Minister Yoav Ben Tzur has signed a transfer of approximately NIS 5 million from the National Insurance to a project to be promoted under the Institute's Funds Department
As part of the social projects promoted by the National Insurance through the Funds Department, it was decided to invest more than 10 million Shekels in the creation of immediate housing for young people at risk and in distress who have no family support, are released or evicted from IDF military service and need temporary housing (up to six months) as well as support in their adult life.
It is known that offering a solution not only to receive benefits, but also to ensure the integration of individuals and groups into society, employment and the economy, is part of the National Insurance policy - the Funds Department of the Institute manages 5 funds that develop social services in the community, providing a solution to basic social needs such as those arising from disability and social exclusion, domestic violence, lack of employment skills, as well as assistance through dedicated projects for tens of thousands of people with disabilities, the elderly, children and youth in social and economic distress, and the reduction of social gaps.
One of the projects approved by the Minister of Labor and for which budget assistance has been signed is the "Mikan" project for released lone soldiers and the establishment of civilian housing for young men and women who are released from the Israeli army as a result of a crisis and need immediate housing and emotional support before embarking on their civilian lives.
This is the initial phase of the construction of 2 apartments for which settling down will take up to 3 months from the date of discharge from military service and will allow them to stay in the apartment for up to 6 months. During this period, a personal program will be established for them with a focus on adult life preparation in the community – employment, housing, education, health, take-up of social rights and more.
The project partners are the Ministry of Social Affairs as well as the Yachad Association, which operates and develops programs for the community in the field of social welfare. If, after 4 years of activity and funding by the National Insurance and the Ministry of Social Affairs, it is found that the project has helped lone soldiers at risk – the project will be implemented within the Ministry of Social Affairs as a permanent plan.
As mentioned, this is the first project of its kind in the State of Israel and this after finding that there was no appropriate response for this population. According to army data, about 3,000 lone soldiers are released from military service each year – 49% of them are deprived of family support. It was only in 2022 that about 430 soldiers defined by the Israeli army as lone soldiers were released immediately for psychological reasons. The need for such housing comes from field observation and requests for the design of a solution in the area of immediate housing at the exit of the Israeli army as well as supervised support in preparation for civilian life in the State of Israel.
These are soldiers who are usually released in the middle of military service and, as a result, do not have the ability to prepare in advance for their release. This group is not entitled to any housing solution provided by the Ministry of Defense and the IDF, as this is not approved in favor of isolated soldiers who have been released for a psychological reason and need accompaniment in addition to a housing solution. Even the emergency housing that exists today under the Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Security is not suitable for the needs of this unique population.
The objectives of the plan signed by the Minister of Labor are, among others: to provide an immediate response to young people for their departure into civilian life, to create a safe space and develop a package of solutions that will allow a "soft landing" in civilian life and to plan adult life in a calm and balanced way, by providing access to existing services and solutions in terms of employment, education, housing and community.
In addition, emphasis will be placed on strengthening the link between young people and care and support actors in the community in order to allow continuity of treatment and the implementation of the designed program, the promotion of a sense of capacity and the development of an aptitude for professional, economic and adult life building behavior and autonomy. Note that in this project, a model will be built to identify and guide soldiers in need of this unique solution as part of a constant contact with the IDF, the Department, and the Fund for Discharged Soldiers.
Minister of Labour, Yoav Ben Tzur: "The signing of the budget support for the construction of this important project is one of the easiest and yet essential things in my work. Lone soldiers who were forced for psychological reasons to be released from the IDF and never received an appropriate solution within the framework of the state. And now, for the first time, we will build for them a home and therapy framework that will include a broad envelope including accommodation, accompaniment and guidance for continuous housing, employment, education and the use of social rights, and so we will provide assistance to distress situations on an individual basis, but this will bring moral and social impact for the general public and an explicit statement from us as a state: "that we care for everyone".
Acting Director General of National Insurance, Yaruna Shalom: "As an integral part of National Insurance policy, we promote social projects in the community. The importance of the National Insurance in the social fabric lies in the place and direct connection we have with public and non-profit organizations in the third sector. This relationship gives rise to many projects that do not exist in the public sphere and within the framework of the National Insurance funds, projects that we have the privilege of promoting. The housing project for at-risk soldiers who have been evicted from the IDF is important to society as a whole and we hope to achieve a success of more than 90% of the young people who will end their stay in this housing, being ready for their civilian life both mentally and economically and employment-wise.