The government decided on 30 July to regulate the process of providing non-cash compensation to single pensioners living in social housing funds in exchange for natural gas, electricity and water bills.

Zaruhi Batoyan, the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, presented the issue to the members of the executive.

The amount of compensation for each year is determined by the Government of the Republic of Armenia due to changes in service tariffs.

The justification of the decision states that more than 250 people currently live in the housing units of the RA Social Housing Fund, 74 of which are single. The Social Housing Fund in the Republic of Armenia includes multi-apartment buildings attached to the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs as a social housing fund, established by the Mission Armenia Charitable Non-Governmental Organization under the Goris Municipality as a social housing fund.

The social home provides only housing, sometimes some social services, but utilities are provided by the resident, who also takes care of all the necessary expenses related to food, clothing, and living. Years of experience have shown that single pensioners living in social housing units generally find it difficult to pay utility bills, the pension is not enough to live at the same time, pay for utilities, and regularly cause problems for social housing managers.