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1. Housing

2. Social services

3. Health care

4. Financial services

5. Quality assurance

Housing

The challenging economic situation in North Macedonia continues to hinder the financial independence of young people, leaving many reliant on their parents well into adulthood. A significant number of young adults remain in their parental homes, even after marriage, due to financial constraints and a lack of accessible housing options.

According to recent Eurostat data, the percentage of young adults (18-34) living with their parents remains high across Europe. In 24 out of 29 European countries, over one-third of young adults still reside in their family homes. North Macedonia is among the leading countries in this trend, with a staggering 42.6% of young people in this age group continuing to live with their parents. The situation has remained largely unchanged since 2011, highlighting a persistent structural issue.

The Law on Social Protection provides housing support only to specific at-risk groups, including beneficiaries of guaranteed minimum assistance and young people without parental care up to age 26. However, there is no comprehensive social housing program for other vulnerable youth, such as students, marginalized groups (LGBTI+, Roma, persons with disabilities), or young professionals struggling to afford rent.

To address these concerns, in 2018, the government launched the National Strategy for Deinstitutionalization (2018-2027) “Timjanik”, with the former Ministry of Labor and Social Policy (MLSP) overseeing its implementation. This strategy aims to transition individuals from large institutional care facilities into smaller, community-based housing solutions. While this initiative has improved conditions for some, it does not directly address the broader housing challenges faced by young people.

Recognizing the need for more accessible housing, the Government has introduced several initiatives aimed at supporting young people’s independence, including:

• Social Housing for Vulnerable Groups: Apartments are allocated through public calls to low-income individuals, including young people. As of 2025, efforts continue to expand these housing options.

• “Buy a House, Buy an Apartment” Program: This initiative, offering partial government subsidies for mortgage payments, remains active. However, accessibility is limited by strict eligibility criteria and low salary thresholds.

• “Buy a House for Youth”: Targeting young people under 35, this program provides financial incentives for first-time homebuyers meeting specific income and ownership criteria.

In addition to housing programs, the Red Cross of North Macedonia operates initiatives to support the homeless population:

• Homeless Support Station (Momin Potok, Skopje) – Operating since 2008, this center provides meals, medical aid, hygiene services, and social counseling.
• Patrol Social Services – Mobile teams identify at-risk individuals, including homeless youth, and connect them with available resources. Temporary shelters also offer emergency accommodations during extreme weather conditions.

Social services

To assist vulnerable groups, the government has introduced financial relief measures such as an Energy Subsidy Program, helping low-income households cover electricity bills and erase debts upon request. Other social inclusion programs focus on supporting marginalized populations, including the homeless, domestic violence survivors, and drug users. 

Recently,  the government has expanded its social support initiatives to assist vulnerable populations, including children, low-income households, and marginalized groups. One of the key developments is the implementation of the European Child Guarantee, which aims to reduce child poverty and social exclusion. The initiative focuses on ensuring that children in poverty have access to essential services such as healthcare, education, nutrition, and housing. Despite existing social support structures, many children still struggle to access these services due to inefficiencies and geographic disparities, particularly in rural areas​.

Additionally, the government is working with UNICEF to improve the efficiency of social support and care services. Efforts include increasing the capacity of Centres for Social Work, which are currently understaffed and overwhelmed with administrative tasks. A new training curriculum for social workers has been introduced to enhance their effectiveness in fieldwork, aiming to provide more direct support to families and children rather than being burdened by paperwork. Integrated case management is also being implemented to ensure a more holistic approach to assisting vulnerable individuals​.

Health care

While healthcare programs largely target the general population, some initiatives cater specifically to young people, such as Youth Health Centers in Skopje, which offer free gynecological, psychological, and sexual health services. Originally founded by HERA, these centers have been part of national health programs since 2018, alongside mobile gynecological clinics that provide reproductive healthcare in rural areas, ensuring access for young women, including marginalized groups such as Roma women and sex workers.

In addition to existing healthcare programs, a National Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy (2025-2030) is currently being developed, accompanied by an action plan aimed at improving access to sexual and reproductive health services. This strategy identifies eight priority areas: family planning, safe abortion, and infertility; maternal and newborn health; sexually transmitted infections; malignant neoplasms of reproductive organs in women; adolescent sexual and reproductive health; gender-based and sexual violence; reproductive health during menopause and perimenopause; and sexual and reproductive health in emergency and crisis situations. One of the key measures includes raising public awareness and educating the general population—particularly youth, vulnerable, socially excluded groups, and persons with disabilities—on the use of modern contraception as a means to reduce abortion rates and prevent infertility.

The National Drug Strategy of the Republic of Macedonia (2021-2025) (Национална стратегија за дрога на Република Македонија 2021-2025) acknowledges the vulnerability of young people and places a special emphasis on addressing their needs, despite its broad, general focus. The strategy highlights the necessity of improving access to early intervention measures, particularly for young individuals who use drugs. By prioritizing preventive and harm-reduction approaches, the strategy aims to enhance the health and well-being of young people while fostering a more effective response to substance use challenges within the country.

Financial services

The Government provides scholarships and student loans to support high school and university students. All available opportunities are regularly published on the website of the Ministry of Education and Science.

In response to the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis, the Ministry of Finance introduced the “Domestic Cards” initiative in June 2020, distributing 87,014 prepaid cards to young people. These cards, valued at 3,000 denars, were intended for purchasing domestic products and services. The program targeted individuals aged 16 to 29 who were actively enrolled in secondary and undergraduate higher education as of May 22, 2020.

Further details on social financial support for vulnerable groups are outlined in Section 4.4.

Quality assurance

Currently, no available information.