The Youth Strategy 2023–2030 (see Chapter 1/1.3 National Youth Strategy) sets Specific Goal 5, which focuses on ensuring the conditions for a healthy and safe environment and the social wellbeing of young people. Under this goal, a set of measures addresses access to quality services and includes:

• Support for programmes that contribute to the development of healthy lifestyles and the mental health of young people (Measure 5.1);
• Support for programmes aimed at improving youth safety (Measure 5.2);
• Support for youth housing independence (Measure 5.4);
• Support for programmes that directly contribute to improving the social inclusion of young people (Measure 5.5).

In addition, a set of regulations and activities in other sectors – primarily social protection, health, and education – also addresses this topic. These will be presented under the appropriate headings below.

Housing 

Under Measure 5.4 – Support for the housing independence of young people of the Youth Strategy 2023–2030, it is recognised that one of the key challenges faced by young people in Serbia is the lack of adequate conditions for independent living. This is largely due to the unfavourable economic position of young people and an insufficiently developed housing policy targeting youth. To address these challenges, a range of incentive-based measures is envisaged, including subsidised housing schemes for young people and young couples, young scientists, the construction of non-profit housing for young people, incentives for the return of young people to rural areas through the purchase of houses, and improvements in conditions for temporary housing. 

Annual Reports on the Implementation of the Action Plan for 2023–2025 for the Youth Strategy (Godišnji izveštaj 2023. godinu o sprovođenju Akcionog plana za period od 2023. do 2025. godine za sprovođenje Strategije za mlade u Republici Srbiji; Godišnji izveštaj 2024. godinu o sprovođenju Akcionog plana za period od 2023. do 2025. godine za sprovođenje Strategije za mlade u Republici Srbiji) indicate that just over 800 young people received subsidies for the purchase of their first home in rural areas in 2023, while 600 beneficiaries were recorded in 2024.

When asked about the main incentive that would encourage housing independence, most young people identify stable employment and adequate income as the primary factors, followed by subsidised rental housing. Other forms of housing support are less frequently recognised (Research on the Position and Needs of Youth, 2025 – Istraživanje položaja i potreba mladih, 2025).

For the most vulnerable groups of young people, such as those experiencing acute homelessness, the Law on Social Protection (Zakon o socijalnoj zaštiti) prescribes youth-specific emergency shelters, street outreach programmes, and drop-in centres as emergency measures.

Additionally, to primarily address the issue of long-term institutionalisation of persons with disabilities, the Strategy for Deinstitutionalisation and the Development of Community-Based Social Services for 2022–2026 (Strategija deinstitucionalizacije i razvoja usluga socijalne zaštite u zajednici za period 2022–2026. godine) was adopted. This strategy envisages a series of measures aimed at supporting deinstitutionalisation, independent or supported living, and the transformation of residential social institutions into community-based day centres.

In line with these strategic objectives, the EU SHAI Programme (Support of the European Union for Social Housing and Active Inclusion), implemented in the period 2019–2025 and funded with €27 million through IPA 2018, aimed to strengthen social inclusion policies in Serbia. The programme targeted vulnerable groups at risk of poverty, including Roma communities, women in disadvantaged situations (particularly survivors of domestic violence), young people in or leaving institutional care, persons with disabilities, and others living in inadequate housing conditions. The programme pursued three key outcomes: strengthening institutional capacities for gender-responsive housing and inclusion services; providing adequate housing for more than 350 of the most vulnerable families; and ensuring access to complementary services such as employment, education, healthcare, and social protection. 

Social services 

Law on Social Protection (Zakon o socijalnoj zaštiti) defines children and young adults up to the age of 26 for whom it is evident that, due to family or other life circumstances, optimal development cannot be achieved without support from the social protection system, as primary beneficiaries. This includes circumstances such as the absence or risk of loss of parental care; the inability of parents or guardians to provide adequate care due to health-related, mental, or socio-economic reasons; developmental disabilities; conflict with family or the community; substance abuse; exposure to violence, neglect, exploitation, or human trafficking; and cases involving unaccompanied foreign nationals or stateless persons.

The services provided under this Law can be classified as follows:

• Daily Community Services (Day Care, Home Assistance, Child’s Personal Assistant, Drop‑in Centre)
• Supported Living Services (Personal Assistance, Supported Housing)
• Counselling, Therapeutic and Socio‑Educational Services
• Residential Services (Shelters)

According to the Report on Local Social Services for 2024 (Izveštaj o uslugama socijalne zaštite na lokalnom nivou koje pružaju licencirani pružaoci usluga u 2024. godini), the total number of licensed social service providers in Serbia exceeds 300. As mentioned in 4.2 Administration and governance the key actors responsible for professional development and networking in the field of social protection are the Republic Institute for Social Protection, which has a special role in developmental, advisory, research, and other professional tasks and the Chamber of Social Protection, an independent, non‑profit, and professional organisation of employed social work professionals and associates.

The Youth Strategy 2023–2030 further emphasises the need to continue developing programmes, projects, and activities aimed at strengthening social inclusion, particularly youth from vulnerable groups.

Health care

Depending on age, young people in Serbia access health care through different types of services. For the 15–19 age group, health care is primarily provided through children and youth departments in general hospitals, clinics and institutes for children and youth, and certain specialised institutions.

For the student population, primary health care is relatively well organised and developed in major university centres, including Belgrade, Niš, and Novi Sad. At the secondary and tertiary levels of care, however, health services are generally not specifically adapted to the needs of young people.

In cases requiring hospitalisation, young people over the age of 19 are, except in exceptional circumstances, treated and hospitalised together with adult patients in specialised departments of general hospitals, clinics, and institutes. An exception is students of the University of Belgrade, who have access to dedicated health care services through the Institute for Students’ Health of the University of Belgrade.

Professional development for health care mediators and the establishment of a national network of health mediators are not fully developed at the national level in Serbia.

In terms of preventive actions, the Youth Strategy 2023–2030 sets out Support for Programmes That Promote Healthy Lifestyles and the Mental Health of People as Measure 5.1. Under it, particular attention is given to disability, mental and psychosocial health risks, violence-related harm, and the health consequences of poverty and social exclusion. Some efforts in this area have already been undertaken. The Report on the Implementation of the Action Plan for 2023–2025 for the Youth Strategy (2024) (Godišnji izveštaj 2024. godinu o sprovođenju Akcionog plana za period od 2023. do 2025. godine za sprovođenje Strategije za mlade u Republici Srbiji) highlights numerous educational and awareness-raising activities aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles, increasing risk awareness, and addressing youth mental health in particular.

Financial services

The Law on Financial Support for Families with Children (Zakon o finansijskoj podršci porodici sa decom) guarantees the right to child allowance, among other support measures, for children and their families with low incomes. Eligibility for each support measure is determined based on household income criteria.

The Ministry of Education continuously provides scholarships and student loans for secondary school pupils and students enrolled in public universities. Students are also entitled to subsidised student housing when they study in a location other than their place of residence. Students from vulnerable groups have access to scholarships/loans and student housing under preferential conditions. All of this is regulated by the Law on Student Standard (Zakon o učeničkom i studentskom standardu).

The Fund for Young Talents (Fond za mlade talente) provides scholarships to high-achieving final-year secondary school pupils and university students, supporting academic excellence and talent development.   

Quality assurance

There is no specific or comprehensive quality assurance system in place to monitor the quality of these services. The current Youth Strategy 2023–2030 sets out a number of indicators under Specific Goal 5 and the above-mentioned measures, mainly focusing on the number of young people reached by services and the number of programmes developed.