Last Updated on December 13, 2021

I am an ‘Oleh Hadash’, do I qualify for public housing in Israel?

The cost of real estate in Israel has risen by about 50 percent over the past 6 years. For people with limited incomes and for those who have little possibility of improving their financial situation, this increase has added to the housing crisis in Israel.

State-owned public housing apartments are significantly cheaper but most of the public housing apartments are located in the peripheral areas and the waiting period, if you are eligible, for a public housing apartment can be several years. The number of state owned public housing units is drying up. In 2011, for example, the state owned just over 65,000 public housing units, 50 percent less than in 10 years earlier.

Do new immigrants qualify for public housing?

New immigrants can qualify for a public housing apartment if they fit in the following categories.

1. A severely disabled person with a permanent disability of 75% or more as determined by Bituach Leumi (National Insurance Institute) or the Ministry of Defense.

2. A minor – up to the age of 18 – who is eligible for the Disabled Child Benefit from Bituach Leumi.

3. The sufferers of certain medical conditions including: a kidney dialysis patients, heart disease patients, people with heart disease requiring a heart transplant, people with a malignant disease requiring radiation or chemotherapy, a liver or lung disease that necessitates a transplant, AIDS patients or patients with chronic mental illness.

4. A person with a “Teudat Iver” – a Certificate of Blindness

5. An immigrant family with at least one severely disabled member

6. An immigrant family with at least one members suffering from severe illness

How do I apply for public housing?

To apply for an apartment and public housing assistance, please consult with your aliyah and absorption coordinator.  If you meet all the criteria, your name will be added to the waiting list.

Useful Resources

Bituach Leumi (National Insurance Institute)

https://www.gov.il

Haifa – 8 Palyam St., Tel: 04-8633666

Jerusalem – 13 Weizmann Blvd., Tel: 02-6709211

Kfar Saba – 34 Weizmann St., Tel: 09-7479888

Bet Shemesh – 8 Hanassi St., Tel: 02-9906111

There also branches in:  Ashdod, Beer Sheva, Beit Shemesh, Bnei Brak, Eilat, Herzliyah, Kiryat Shmona Netanya, Petach Tikva, Rechovot, Ramat Gan & Rishon LeZion

Ministry of Housing & Construction (Misrad HaBinuy VeHaShikun)

Haifa – 15 Palyam St., Tel: 04-863-0666 / 1-800-229-944

Jerusalem – Kiryat HaMemshala; Tel: 02-5847211

Ministry of Immigrant Absorption (Misrad Haklita)

https://www.moia.gov.il/Moia_en/HomePage.htm?

Haifa – 15   Palyam St. , Tel: 04 8631116/7

Jerusalem – Kiryat Ben Gurion, Tel: 02-6752611

Kfar Saba – 23 HaTa’ash, Tel: 1-599-500-906

Tel Aviv – 6 Esther Hamalka, Tel: 03-5209153

Bet Shemesh – 10 Hashiva, Tel: 02-9939102

There are also branches in: Afula, Arad, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Beer Sheva, Carmiel, Dimona, Eilat, Hadera, HaShfela, Holon, Kiryat Arba, Kiryat Malachi, Kiryat Shmona, Maalot, Migdal HaEmek, Mitzpe Rimon, Modi’in, Nahariya, Netanya, Petach Tikva, Rechovot, Rishon LeTzion, Sderot, Tzfat, Upper Nazareth, Western Negev and Yerucham.

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