עברית

Hazor, with a population of 8,700, is a development town in northern Israel and was founded in the 1950's to settle immigrants from North Africa. Many residents have not yet overcome the hurdles of the absorption process and still face a wide range of challenges including large debts, food insecurity, and difficulties in accessing National Insurance Institute benefits. Many of the city's residents live in poorly maintained public housing buildings.
 

 

The Hazor Citizen Rights Center is directed by Sharli Shriki, who recently completed his Master's Degree in Social Work and has several years experience directing the Tzfat Center. He is assisted by nine dedicated volunteers, including three empowered former clients and professionals from the fields of law, management and banking.

In the first six months of 2011 the Hazor Center assisted 684 local residents. The vast majority of clients approach YEDID in Hazor on matters of debt management (see pie chart). This assistance includes coaching on balancing budgets, augmenting income, learning to change lifestyle to adapt to new financial circumstances, and bureaucratic assistance in navigating and negotiating with the offices of banks and the Repossessions Authority.

 

In addition to providing individual assistance, Center Director Sharli encourages former clients who are unemployed to volunteer at YEDID as an opportunity to gain crucial job skills. In May 2011 the Center successfully implemented its first Youth Financial Management Training program for 25 high school students and more groups are planned. In the past, the Center has implemented empowerment programming for Ethiopian immigrants as well as financial management training.