Former Orphanage Graduate Refuses Housing and Job: Ministry of Social Affairs Clarification

The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia has issued a clarification in response to numerous public concerns.

"We inform that A.E., a former graduate of an orphanage, acquired a 92 square meter property in Yerevan on September 18, 2020, based on a housing purchase certificate (HPC) issued by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. A.E. received the housing purchase certificate on March 9, 2020, as a former orphanage graduate, and due to loss of the certificate, applied to the ministry again on August 18, 2020, and received a duplicate of the document.

In accordance with the established procedure, a sales agreement for the property was signed between the property owner and the buyer—the former orphanage graduate—, which was notarized. Before the organization of the housing purchase, the citizen was repeatedly offered housing in social apartments under the jurisdiction of the ministry, which the individual declined. The citizen was also offered a job, which was also refused, preferring to live independently.

We thank the citizens for their attention and care, while also stating that the ministry’s efforts to improve the quality of life for citizens continue," the ministry stated on its Facebook post.

Previously, a photo of the orphanage graduate had circulated on social media, causing a stir among users.