Denizbank (Türkiye)

Whether they are clearly visible or subtle, deep-rooted or just arising, social necessities in different shapes and dimensions are penetrating our societies. One of them is about how we can ensure that disabled individuals have a decent place to live, receiving the attention and care they require. The Anatolia Cit y Mass Housing Construction Cooperative for the Disabled is a pilot social project in Türkiye that aims to address this problem. The Anatolian Association for Disabled People launched the initiative in 2008 in Kayseri, in an effort to prevent the disabled from living in the slums under poor and restrictive conditions. Kayseri is among Türkiye’s most populous cities, and one of the leading centres of industry and trade in the Anatolian region. The cooperative’s blocks of houses are located about 10 km from the city centre and are able to accommodate 1 000 people.

The facilities were developed with attention to detail, respecting the specific needs of the disabled. Services such as healthcare, cleaning and education are also ensured on site. Currently, there are around 200 residents, with the number of inhabitants growing continuously as news about the project is spreading. The cooperative received a long-term loan from Denizbank, and benefited from an EU guarantee under the Greater Anatolia Guarantee Facility (GAGF) managed by EIF. An additional EU grant covered expenses related to the initiative’s promotion among potential stakeholders and target groups. The GAGF loan kicked in at the right time allowing the cooperative to complete the constructions works smoothly and without any delays. Osman Kiliç, founder of “Thanks to this loan opportunity, the cooperative could greatly enhance its capability to address an important social challenge. Disabled people are often marginalised or simply neglected, but I am confident that we are on the right track to counter such trends in our region.” The cooperative will be looking to deploy additional financing at favourable conditions also for the project’s continuation in the near future.

Company: Anatolia City Mass Housing Construction Cooperative for the Disabled (Türkiye)

Type of business: Construction with a social purpose

EU-supported guarantee:  GAGF

For further information about EIF intermediaries in Türkiye, please refer to:
http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/where/tr