THE MODERN SHAPE OF ROMA GHETTOIZED STRUCTURES IN LOM: SPECIFICITY, PROBLEMS AND PERSPECTIVES

Abstract

In today's dynamic world, where digitization and innovation are increasingly entering everyday life, we are witnessing worldwide increased migration and urban expansion. According to the United Nations (UN), 55% of the world's population currently lives in cities, with urban areas expected to continue to expand and reach 68% of the population by 2050. On a national level, regardless of the negative demographic changes of the decrease in the number of the population, there are trends of increased migration to larger cities and regional centers, due to the availability of more favorable opportunities for work and personal fulfillment. In the city of Lom, as a typical example of a settlement from the North West planning region, in which a significant decrease in the total number of the population is observed, an increase in the size of the existing Roma ghettoized urban structures (Stadiona quarter, Humata quarter, and Mladenovo quarter). This fact has a significant impact on its development. In the context of European territorial cohesion policies, the issue of improving urban spaces, reducing disparities between neighborhoods, promoting integration and achieving a low degree of segregation is increasingly on the agenda. There are a number of problems in the independent Roma neighborhoods, which, regardless of the efforts of the local authorities, remain unresolved. Poverty, poor sanitary living conditions, illegal construction, polluted street environment, high levels of unemployment often lead to conflicts and can threaten the social and spatial integrity of the city. Achieving economic prosperity of the city requires a detailed examination of the accumulated problems in these structures and the search for solutions, so as to create favorable conditions for the full integration of the Roma and the reduction of social differences. The main purpose of the report is to outline the specifics, pressing problems and prospects for the Roma community living in these ghettoized structures, with a view to improving the appearance of the city and preventing the transformation of these neighborhoods into an overpopulated and segregated area.
Based on a series of in depth interviews conducted with representatives of the Roma community, educational mediators, non governmental organizations, informal Roma leaders and local government representatives within the framework of a project on the topic: " Spatial models of the Roma ghettoized urban structures in Bulgaria ", financed by the Bulgarian National Science Fund (BNSF) at the Ministry of Education and Science, contract №KП
06 H65/7 from 12.12.2022 an attempt will be made to answer the research question.