Landlords are in no hurry to rent out an apartment to people with disabilities. But there are also successful examples: a Muscovite Alena signed a lease with a charitable foundation, and recently extended it for another year and shares her experience.
For the second year Alena has been renting an apartment to young children with osteogenesis imperfecta (a disease of the "crystal man", which is characterized by increased fragility of bones. - Ed.). She signed a lease with a foundation that has young adult wards who are able to live independently - this is an accompanied residence.

"They won't clean up"

Alena has the keys, but she prefers to wait until one of the tenants opens it himself. “I don’t like to open the door of a rented apartment with my key: somehow impolite,” the girl explains. But already in the corridor, she is proactively examining the lopsided shoe rack and writes on her phone: change to an open one, without doors.

Once in a two-room apartment, called in the Soviet way a small family, Alena lived with her mother and sister. Treasured 52 sq. m went to them from the plant where my mother worked. The center of Moscow, near a metro station, a school, a kindergarten - at that time it seemed that if this was not the ultimate dream, then it was close to the ideal. Then the plant went bankrupt, my mother was gone, the older sister got married and left for Vladivostok, and Alena herself built her own family and moved to her husband. It was decided to rent the property.

“They put it on Cyan for 60 thousand a month - this is with all the utility bills,” Alena notes. - In the very first days, the stream of views was scheduled literally every minute, there was no shortage of candidates. However, we did not put forward strict requirements either. "

A few days later, Alena received an unusual call. The caller introduced herself as the curator of the Fragile People charitable foundation and asked to see an apartment for children with disabilities.
She said that the foundation is implementing the “Become an adult” project in order to create conditions for its wards to develop social and everyday skills, obtain a profession and become in adulthood.

“My sister immediately protested, and I even wondered what would come of it. - Alena recalls. - I myself am a realtor, I help people find an apartment. But over the years of practice, I have encountered this for the first time.

The girl had many questions - from banal household questions (how will they be cleaned up?) To cash (what are the guarantees of payment, who is responsible for young people?). All fears and doubts at a personal meeting with Alena were dispelled by the director of the foundation Elena Meshcheryakova.

“We took everything apart. The guys are not alone - they have a curator who looks after them. Each of the tenants has his own goal - someone came to study, someone - to work. Therefore, an idle life is not assumed. And most importantly, the payment for the apartment is official and goes through the Fragile People charitable foundation. We signed a contract for a year - during all this time there was not a single delay. "

ALENA HAS DECLARED SELF-EMPLOYMENT AND CHARGED TAXES ON PROFITS: FROM 62 THOUSAND THIS IS 3.6 THOUSAND. RUBLES. THE GIRL THINKS THIS IS A SMALL AMOUNT FOR THE GUARANTEE THAT THE APARTMENT IS IN GOOD HANDS.

"You feel like a human being"

18-year-old Danila, a tenant of an "adult" apartment, came to Moscow from the Saratov region immediately after leaving school. Over the past few months, the guy has not only traveled half of Moscow in his wheelchair, but with the support of the fund's specialists, he got a job at one of the largest Internet services selling clothes and household goods. Now the foundation helps him build relationships in the team. The ambition and perseverance of the young man allowed him to apply for one of the demanded positions - a backend developer.

However, an independent life put before Danila and everyday issues. Washing and ironing clothes, cleaning, cooking - before the guy only guessed about everyday problems, but now he takes care of himself on his own (or almost on his own).

“We manage our daily affairs ourselves. A washing machine, dishwasher, and microwave are very helpful in this. But for a more thorough cleaning, we invite a cleaning service. We throw off our own money and call us, ”Danila specifies.

Big changes start with small steps

A ramp, a freight elevator and the absence of thresholds in an apartment are the basic requirements for housing in which young people with osteogenesis imperfecta will learn to be independent. Being “fragile”, over 18 years of age and having a clear goal are the basic requirements to “Become an adult”.

The project is almost two years old. During this time, two guys have already graduated from the rented apartment, and now three more are preparing: Nastya, Danila and Kostya.

“Very often, charity and help means saving lives, paying for medical services,” comments Elena Meshcheryakova, head of the Fragile People charity foundation. - But many people forget about social rehabilitation, although it is no less important and significant part of the life of people with osteogenesis imperfecta. Therefore, the project is as vital as medical assistance. "

Payment 

living comes from donations. During the spring pandemic, the financial capabilities of the fund decreased - Alena reacted to this with understanding, reduced the payment by several months. But this, perhaps, was the only time when the girl had to discuss the monetary aspect, because the rest of the time, "Fragile People" regularly fulfill their obligations.

“I don’t think I’m doing anything special,” Alena says. - We live in a metropolis - we all need kindness. If I can be useful in this way, that's great! Now I ask my clients more and more often if they are ready to rent housing to people with limited mobility. There were cases when people listened, changed their minds. I think with such small steps it is really possible to change the attitude of the whole society ”.