Volume 2, ISSUE2/2011 - Review of Applied Socio-Economic ...

Pag׀ 197 ISSN: 2247-6172ISSN-L: 2247-6172Review of Applied Socio- Economic Research(Issue 2/ 2011)URL: http://www.reaser.eue-mail: editors@reaser.eugovernment organizations, local partnerships or private companies to undertake initiative in new entrepreneurialmanner.One of the most important areas is the provision of social services, which has a relatively limited coverage. Astep forward is taken by the recently amended social legislation, which promotes for transition from institutionalcare to community-based services and initiates a client-oriented approach in creation of alternative social services.The main problems in the housing sector relate to the poor maintenance of the housing fund; the increasednumber and share of inhabited houses in rural areas; the rising number of housing owners who are not able tocover increasing houses expenses; the low proportion of existing and newly built public housing buildings; the lackof specialized housing saving and housing crediting system. A possible solution is to stimulate the activity of thenon-profit housing units, as well as a new subsidy system and a specialized housing saving and crediting system.Employment of people with disabilities is an area that remains unexploited and even underestimated opportunity.Economically active people with disabilities represent ¼ of the working age group in Bulgaria. The prevailing partof them works in sheltered enterprises and cooperatives. The total number of these organizations throughout thecountry speaks for itself – only 115. The rest of the people with disabilities are employed in the mainstream labormarket. The employees are obliged to provide appropriate job places, defined by the quotas in the Labor Code,the Employment Promotion Code, and the Protection, Rehabilitation and Social Integration of Disabled Act.Nevertheless the practical results are to some extent discouraging. The unemployment rate of the people withdisabilities exceeds the average unemployment rate in the country. Another concern regarding availing andrestraining of the unemployment level is the way to enhance the educational level. The educational disadvantagesreveal as significant determinants of poverty and social exclusion. This has become a challenge not only for thegovernment authorities, but also for the organizations in the third sector to provide adequate strategies andinnovative approaches towards lifelong learning opportunities and reduction of the drop-out rate in schools.6. References[1] “The Hampton Court Agenda: A social model for Europe” (2006) Policy Network, p.98[2] A system for good governance in the EU (Contribution to the White paper on Governance) Euro-Mediterraneannetwork of social economy, 4-5[3] European Governance, White Paper Brussels, 25.7.2001, COM(2001) 428 final.[4] NSI, Household budgets in the period 1999 – 2007[5] NSI, Laeken indicators: Results of the 3 rd Round, 2007[6] Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on “The role and contribution of civil society organizations in thebuilding of Europe”, (1999/C 329/10), point 8.1.[7] Pfaller, A., M. Meinardus, D. Arpinte, A. Dan, M. Stancuescu, M. Gerovska-Mitev, S. Miovska-Spaseva, D. Gjorgjev, D.Minev, L. Tomev, D. Draganov, A. Draganic, P. Bejakovic, D. Vukovic, M. Maucher (2010) “Social inclusion in South-EastEurope: National and Regional policy priorities for Social Europe”, Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Grafimax 02 LTD, 7-33[8] Report No. 44289-BG, Human Development Sector Unit, The World Bank (2009) “Bulgaria: Living conditions before andafter EU accession”[9] State Gazette No 120/2002 of Social Assistance Act of 1998 (2002 Revision)[10] Study on practices for management of non-profit organizations in Bulgaria (2004) Bulgarian Centre for Not-for-profitLaw, Board Source[11] Zheliazkov, G., N. Kostadinova, D. Zaimova (2011) “The challenges of running social enterprises: finding better solutionfor development of the Bulgarian rural regions”, Second International Scientific Conference “Business and RegionalDevelopment. Rural areas – A look towards Europe 2020”, 23-24 June, 2011, Faculty of Economics, Trakia University,Bulgaria