Government drafts new legislation for more humane rental eviction policies

The government wants to limit the evictions of pregnant women and disabled people. It urgently filed a proposal to Sejm on Tuesday. The government is concerned with the rental bill of 1994, which resulted in evictions of people with no resources. According to the Central Statistical Office (GUS), between 1996-1999 there had been 20,500 evictions, but the number of people who found themselves living on the streets is not known. The housing authorities admit they rarely permit the evicted to live in social housing. The number of homeless is increasing rapidly. In 1999 there were 6,700 evictions, which was 25% more than in 1998. At present people may be evicted if they do not pay the rent, destroy apartments or disturb the peace. (Gazeta Wyborcza, page 22)