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Contacts with other Institutions

The following are a list of some of institutions across Europe, concerned with housing issues, with whom BHA has had contact:

Since 1999 Bulgarian Housing Association has obtained a status of associate member of CECODHAS - European Social Housing Liaison Unit and is presented at CECODHAS Working Group for CEE Countries.

European Network for Housing Research (ENHR)- an international organisation linking researchers, officials, practitioners, working in the area of housing.

European Real Estate Society (ERES)- an organisation, established in 1994, collecting professionals from Western and Eastern Europe, dealing with real estate problems.

Swedish Housing Exhibition (Svensk Bostadsmässa) - a non-profit institution at the Swedish National Board on Housing and Planning (BOVERKET). It is specialised in management of local housing construction projects at municipal level. Contacts were established since Autumn 1993 to look into opportunities for the implementation of similar activities in Bulgaria.

Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations (NIFHA). The Bulgarian Housing Association established contacts with NIFHA in 1995 following the joint UK-Bulgarian Housing Project.

Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) - the largest public housing authority in Western Europe. Close contacts were established since 1995 following the implementation of the UK-Bulgarian housing project.

Construction Employers' Federation of Northern Ireland (CEF) - professional organisation of the construction companies. An initial exchange of information concerning building sector and contractual opportunities between Bulgaria and Northern Ireland was made.

Northern Ireland Co-ownership Housing Association (NICHA). Affordable Housing Project, developed by the Bulgarian Housing Association, is based on the co-ownership scheme used by NICHA.

Walter Segal Self-Build Trust - a non-profit organisation from the United Kingdom, focused on self-build activities. Having in mind Bulgarian traditions in self-building in rural areas, Bulgarian Housing Association intends to enlarge recently established contacts.

Landesbausparkasse Berlin (LBS) - a housing savings bank based in Berlin at a regional savings bank branch. Specialised in financing of regional housing construction. Due to its limited area of activities, the contacts (since 1994) included exchange of relevant information.

Co-operative Housing Foundation (KHF) - an American non-profit organisation, dealing with co-operative housing.

Bulgarian Center for Energy Efficiency (EnEffect) - a nationally based NGO, focused on energy efficiency issues. Experts from the Bulgarian Housing association were engaged in a multidisciplinary research project on the energy efficiency strategy for Bulgarian building stock.

De Nieuwe Unie - a large Dutch housing corporation, operating in the area of Rotterdam. Relations dated from year 2000, when BHA expert obtained training there. Subsequently it was involved in joint project with BHA in Sofia

Woondrecht - Dutch housing association, operating in the Dordrecht. Co-operation started since 2002 in renovation project for Sofia

Dutch International Guarantees for Housing foundation (DIGH) has been set up as an initiative of several Dutch housing associations with the aim to stimulate social housing in transition countries. DIGH is providing affordable loans with the help of financial guarantees by Dutch housing associations, municipalities and other institutions. Relations with BHA started recently.

09/11/03