Forced Evictions: SOS Zaharna Fabrika in Sofia
Zaharna Fabrika, or the Sugar Factory, is a district in Bulgaria’s capital Sofia, which has operated as an informal Roma settlement for over 80 years. Yet on 15 April 2025, the municipality proceeded at the demolition of multiple dwellings in the community, despite a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights, leaving over 200 Roma individuals homeless.
This recent forced eviction of Roma families from their homes reveals a deeper systemic issue – the persistent housing insecurity faced by many Roma communities in Bulgaria, against the backdrop of historical and ongoing deep-seated antigypsyism. For centuries, Roma communities have been caught in a vicious cycle of exclusion, where systemic barriers to adequate housing are both a symptom and a cause of their marginalisation.
Zaharna Fabrika’s plight reflects a broader pattern across the country, where over 70% of Roma neighbourhoods lack formal land ownership status, detailed spatial planning, or adequate infrastructure. This crisis is rooted in historical neglect, discriminatory policies, and legal obstacles that continue to undermine Roma housing rights.
Today, the families evicted from Zaharna Fabrika are sleeping in tents near the ruins of their former homes, exposed to harsh weather and without access to basic sanitation or healthcare. This brutal displacement violates their fundamental rights and underscores a broader failure to address Roma housing insecurity. While some temporary support has come from grassroots organisations, the local and national governments have largely abandoned these families.
Despite their vulnerable situation, these families face mounting institutional hostility. Chemical toilets that had been provided were removed without explanation, and attempts by residents to engage with local authorities have been met with legal threats. The response from political leaders remains muted, reflecting entrenched prejudice and a political environment that often prioritises economic interests over human rights.
In response, organisations like our members, Integro Association, and partners from ATD Fourth World, Trust for Social Achievement, and Roma for Democracy have stepped up, providing immediate relief while advocating for systemic change. However, these efforts are hindered by a lack of political will and systemic racism.
- Read here the statement by Integro Association on the situation of the Roma families evicted from Zaharna Fabrika, and here is the petition to policy-makers that they initiated.
As the families of Zaharna Fabrika struggle for survival, their situation should serve as a wake-up call to policymakers across Europe. True housing security for Roma requires not just emergency aid, but a deep, systemic overhaul to address decades of neglect and exclusion.
It is time for the EU and national governments to commit to a fair and inclusive housing strategy – one that prioritizes human dignity over bureaucratic barriers. Only then can we hope to break the cycle of exclusion and build a future where every Roma family has a secure place to call home.
ERGO Network urges European and national policymakers to act now – to invest in inclusive, affordable housing, to staunchly commit to combatting antigypsyism in housing and across the board, and to support the grassroots movements working tirelessly for Roma rights.
Without this commitment, crises like the one Zaharna Fabrika will only proliferate, further entrenching inequalities and exclusion for Europe’s Roma.
- For more information about the ongoing efforts on the ground in Bulgaria, please contact Liliya Makaveeva (l.makaveeva@gmail.com), Director, Integro Association.
- For more information about ERGO Network’s work on Roma access to quality and affordable housing, please contact Amana Ferro (a.ferro@ergonetwork.org), Senior Policy Adviser.
- For more information on Roma access to quality and affordable housing, please read our full research report here.
