A highly disturbing decision which will cause thousands of
kollel students to lose their governmental stipends
for renting apartments was made two weeks ago, during
government deliberations on the State's budget for the
forthcoming year. It just became public knowledge, however,
this week. From January 1, 2000, avreichim and young
couples who do not meet the income criteria of the Housing
Ministry will be ineligible for the aid which the government
has until now extended them for rental costs.
Up until this new decision, young couples whose eligibility
points (as determined by the Housing Ministry) amounted to
1400 points, were able to receive NIS 440 toward their
rentals. Those with more than 1800 points received NIS 570.
This system benefited large families, since one of the
important factors that determines the points of a couple is
the size of the families. It also helped others whose
eligibility points reached the requisite number.
The government's decision states that only those with 1600
points or more will be eligible for such help. At the same
time the young couples will also have to meet specific income
criteria which include the income of their parents.
The meaning of this decision is that a kollel student
who studies Torah full time, and whose only income is his
kollel stipend, may not be among those eligible for
such assistance. This will adversely affect thousands of
kollel students, whose families do not meet the income
criteria, and but whose own earnings are very low.
An additional decision of the government regarding housing
for the chareidi sector, was that local grants of NIS 30,000,
as well as loans of NIS 30,000 and development grants of NIS
15,000 for purchasers of new apartments in the new chareidi
settlement of Elad-Mazor, will be canceled. This decision,
like the former one, will harm a large sector of the chareidi
community.
Both these decisions of the government will take effect on
January 1, 2000.
People in the mortgage field say that in light of the
government's decision, those currently eligible for
assistance should hasten to arrange their rent subsidies for
the next six months, while those who intend to buy apartments
in Elad-Mazor should take advantage of the loans and grants
before the beginning of the year 2000.
Rabbi Avrohom Ravitz said that the government's decision
"aims to nullify the chareidi community. The decision is
specifically directed against the bnei Torah
community. No one else will be harmed by it. This underscores
the government's attitude toward the chareidi sector. The
government specifically aims to discount the needs of the
chareidi community, as part of its overall economic scheme to
undermine the Torah world."
Rabbi Moshe Gafni said that the government is pursing a
policy of "the rich will be richer, and the poor poorer."
Those affected by the decision are young couples, some of
whom are of middle income status or lower than that, as well
as avreichim who study Torah full time, and whose
economic situation is very difficult. According to all
criteria, all of these young people are eligible for income
increments and annuities. Even without the government's new
decision, they are crushed by their economic burdens and
their difficulties in finding housing solutions. If such a
decision takes effect, they won't be able to purchase their
own apartments. "We will do everything in or power to prevent
the implementation of this decision, and block its passage in
the Knesset. We will do our utmost to thwart policies which
harm the weak sectors and those who study Torah full time,"
promised Rabbi Gafni.
