On this page

1. Housing

2. Social services

3. Health care

4. Financial services

5. Quality assurance

Housing

Youth housing support in North Macedonia is primarily embedded within broader social protection and social housing policies rather than within a dedicated youth housing framework.

Under the Law on Social Protection, housing support is available to:

• beneficiaries of Guaranteed Minimum Assistance;

• persons who had the status of children without parental care up to age 26;

• socially vulnerable households without housing property.
  
  Social Housing Programme

(Програма за изградба и одржување на станови во сопственост на Република Северна Македонија)

This programme, implemented by the Ministry of Transport, provides state-owned apartments allocated through public calls. Young people without parental care represent one of the priority beneficiary groups.

The programme has been operational since the early 2010s and continues through annual public calls. However, allocation remains limited compared to demand, and there is no youth-specific quota beyond young people leaving care.

National Strategy for Deinstitutionalisation (2018–2027) “Timjanik”

(Национална стратегија за деинституционализација 2018–2027 „Тимјаник“)

Adopted in 2018 and implemented by the former Ministry of Labour and Social Policy (reorganised in 2024 into the Ministry of Social Policy, Demography and Youth), the strategy supports transition from institutional care to community-based housing.

Young care-leavers are among the target groups. While the strategy improves housing conditions for formerly institutionalised youth, it does not address housing affordability for the broader youth population.

Mortgage Subsidy Measures

The “Buy a House/Buy an Apartment” programme (Купи куќа, купи стан), introduced in 2016, provides partial state subsidies for mortgage repayment for eligible first-time homebuyers under 35. Eligibility depends on income thresholds and property ownership criteria.

Although young professionals are eligible, strict income ceilings and banking requirements limit access, particularly for low-income youth.

There is no comprehensive youth rental support scheme at national level.

Social services

Social services are regulated by the Law on Social Protection, which introduced:

• decentralised social services provision;

• licensing of private and civil society service providers;

• expansion of community-based services.
  
  European Child Guarantee

North Macedonia participates in the implementation of the European Child Guarantee (launched at EU level in 2021), aiming to ensure access to:

• early childhood education;

• healthcare;

• adequate nutrition;

• housing;

• education for children at risk of poverty and social exclusion.
   

National implementation plans focus on children in poverty, Roma children, children with disabilities and children in alternative care.

Energy Subsidy Programme

The Energy Subsidy Programme has been operational in different forms since 2010 and was expanded during the energy crisis (2022–2023). It provides monthly financial assistance to low-income households to cover electricity expenses.

Beneficiaries include recipients of Guaranteed Minimum Assistance and other socially vulnerable households. Young people living independently within low-income households may indirectly benefit.

Social innovation and service providers

The 2019 social protection reform enables civil society organisations and private providers to deliver licensed social services, including:

• day-care centres;

• counselling services;

• supported living services;

• outreach work for marginalised youth.
  
   

International organisations (e.g., UNICEF) support capacity building of Centres for Social Work, including:

• integrated case management;

• digitalisation of administrative processes;

• professional development of social workers.
   

However, staff shortages and administrative burden remain systemic challenges.

Health care

Young people access health services through the universal public healthcare system.

Youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services

Youth Health Centres in Skopje, originally established by the NGO HERA in 2018 and later integrated into national health programmes, provide:

• gynaecological services;
• psychological counselling;
• sexual and reproductive health education;
• STI testing and counselling.
   

Mobile gynaecological clinics operate in rural and underserved areas, targeting young women, Roma women and socially excluded groups.

National Drug Strategy (2021–2025) (Национална стратегија за дрога 2021–2025)

The strategy emphasises prevention, early intervention and harm reduction, particularly for young people. Measures include:

• school-based prevention programmes;
• counselling services;
• outreach programmes for vulnerable youth.
  
  Health mediators

Health mediators, particularly within Roma communities, play a key role in facilitating access to healthcare services. Ongoing efforts aim to:

• provide professional training for health mediators;
• strengthen coordination between health institutions and marginalised communities;
• support development of a more structured national health mediators network.
   

A new National Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy (2025–2030) is under preparation, with a focus on youth, vulnerable groups and prevention of gender-based violence.

Financial services

Youth financial support measures are primarily education- and poverty-related.

Scholarships and student support

The Ministry of Education and Science provides:

• merit-based scholarships;

• social scholarships for students from low-income households;

• scholarships for students with disabilities;

• scholarships for students without parental care.
   

Eligibility criteria include academic performance and household income thresholds.

Subsidised student meal

Introduced in 2022 and continued through 2024,2025 and 2026 the subsidised student meal scheme provides monthly financial support (approximately 3,360 MKD in 2026) to full-time undergraduate students who:

• are not employed;

• are not registered farmers;

• do not exceed the minimum net salary income threshold.

  Access to allowances and credit

Young people from low-income households may access:

• Guaranteed Minimum Assistance;

• child allowance;

• energy subsidies;

• housing financial support (for care-leavers).
   

There is no dedicated youth credit scheme beyond mortgage subsidies.

Quality assurance

Quality assurance mechanisms vary across sectors:

• Social services providers must obtain licences under the Law on Social Protection.

• Centres for Social Work are subject to administrative supervision.

• Health institutions operate under national health standards.
   

However:

• Publicly available impact evaluations remain limited;

• Disaggregated data on youth beneficiaries is not systematically published;

• Cross-sectoral monitoring of youth inclusion outcomes is underdeveloped.
   

Strengthening integrated data systems and publishing outcome-based evaluations would improve transparency and policy effectiveness.