Most public housing in Warsaw has no heating system.
The authorities force more than 50,000 low-income people
to use the most expensive method: electric heating.
The cost of electricity is several times higher than the cost of rent.
In effect, many people work double time and find themselves in a bind:
If you fall into debt, the company will cut off your electricity
and, soon enough, the city will evict you.
Protests organized by the Warsaw Tenants' Association
forced city authorities to hold a special council meeting
on the high heating costs in winter.
I live near Szembek square. That address wasn't mentioned here.
The square is beautifully illuminated with decorations.
I live in a building from where I watch the lights.
I have electric heating.
I got this apartment for myself and my 4 sons because of low-income.
The apartment rent is about 120 euros.
The electricity bill is around 250 euros, and I don't have that kind of money.
My everyday dilemma is: Which bill should I pay?
I have to pay the electricty bill because otherwise they'll cut it off.
I already had it cut a few times, and I didn't know where to go with 4 kids.
So we sleep at my parents' place on the floor together.
The kids can't do their homework, nothing.
If I pay the electricity bill then I can't pay the rent.
However, you won't get rid of me so easily. These are my everyday calculations.
I want to cry because I've been fighting so long.
I have a document from 35 years ago.
It's an application for connecting our building to central heating.
That runs 2 meters from our building.
It's from 35 years ago!
And now I want to ask the mayor:
What should I do?
I'm so stressed out that I fainted and an ambulance picked me up off the street,
all because I didn't see a way out of this situation.
I've been on the list for getting a better apartment since 2016
but there is no better apartment with central heating available.
- And what about mold? We can't get rid of it.
I used chemicals to kill it but now I'm 5 months pregnant
so I can't use chemicals anymore. Do you have a solution?
You talked about social assistance and energy subsidies.
They exist: They are 45 euros or 70 euros maximum.
But you can't have debt to get them.
I have debt because if I pay the electric bill
I have nothing left for rent, so I don't get any aid.
I just got approved for two loans at the bank.
What should I do, can you tell me?
I'm not asking for a free lunch, I want to pay for this apartment.
The only thing is: That's just not possible.
[Mayor:] 4 Szembek square, that's a private building...
- My apartment is public housing!
[Mayor:] I suspect it is...
- What about her debt?
[Mayor:] What's that?
- Who's responsible for it?
- I constantly think about where I can get a loan
and what I should pay off first.
[Mayor:] Madam, you have debt as I understand!?
I took a loan and paid off my rent debts.
Now I have loans from two banks.
[Mayor:] So you're in debt at the bank...
Because last year the city cancelled my housing agreement
and I was facing eviction.
I had no choice but to take out a loan and pay my debt on rent.
[Mayor:] How much did you owe? Can you reveal that? Then we'll know...
I owed 715 euros, the most I owed was 1,200 euros.
I think my voice is one among many.
We're here to talk about our situations
not because we want to fight for our one cause
but to show you that we're all in a bind,
that we're not making it up, that it's making us sick.
At least, I'm sick because of it.
[Mayor:] Madam, I have a proposal for you:
Your case is painful, individual...
- No! No!
I stand with all the others fighting.
[Mayor:] Show some class, please!
I have another proposal:
Let's get rid of this city council!
[Head of the council:] Mr. Mayor, do you have anything else to add
besides asking: "Who lives where, etc..."?
The South Praga district authorities have announced that before next winter
they plan to hook up to central heating
15 out of the 350 buildings currently without heating.
What about the rest of the people?
Are they destined to live in cold, humid housing and drown in debt?
Faced with social crisis, the authorities refuse to take action
and are instead focusing on slandering the Warsaw Tenants' Association.
The Warsaw Tenants' Association demands: Cancel the debts and stop evictions!
If the authorities force hard working women and their families to pay for
the high costs of heating with electricity then they can't ask them to pay rent.
Instead, the city should pay reparations to tenants for years of living
in sub-standard conditions.
They should also make real subsidies available to everyone struggling
with the high costs of heating.
Join the Warsaw Tenants' Association (WSL)!
Together we'll make the authorities pay the bill!