Romani youth caring for two siblings in Plzeň granted council flat

Václav Miko, a 19-year-old Romani youth caring for two young siblings, will receive a lease from the town of Plzeň for the council flat in which they live. Town councillors made the decision on Friday. Miko has received a three-month lease which will be extended should he pay the rent without problems, town councilor Helena Matoušová (ODS) told journalists.

The flat was previously leased to Miko’s mother, but she has not been paying the rent. She accumulated almost CZK 100 000 in debts and was subsequently evicted. Miko, who has become the foster guardian of his siblings, wants to stay on there.

This past August a Roma association drew attention to the case and criticized the town councilors for their approach, calling the entire affair racial discrimination. The association warned that the Romani youth and his siblings were at risk of being evicted because of their mother’s debt.

At the time the town hall objected to the criticism, saying the mother had filed a lawsuit against the eviction and that all parties had to wait for the court decision. The mother later withdrew her suit and the town began seeking a solution. “Given Mr Miko’s young age and his responsible approach, the town has entered into a three-month lease with him and has clearly declared its will to extend the lease in future,” Matoušová said.