Page 5 - Jewish Agency Companies 2017 Annual Report

Amigour

Founded in 1972

The Amigour housing company operates throughout the country. It is the leading company in Israel in the
area of sheltered housing (7,000 residents) and the second largest in the field of public housing (11,000
units). In recent years, the company has become a leader in the field of security rooms and residential
bomb shelters.

The goals of the company focus on providing housing solutions for those in need, especially new
immigrants, senior citizens and Holocaust survivors. Since its establishment, the company has provided
more than 60,000 housing solutions to these populations. Approximately 70% of the residents of
Amigour’s 57 senior citizen homes are Holocaust survivors.

The Jewish Agency, led by its Finance Unit and Assets Management Division, together with Amigour,
conducted negotiations with the Government of Israel, and on December 31st 2015, an agreement was
signed for the construction of approximately 2,650 units of low-cost public housing for seniors and others
in need. This project is in collaboration with the United Israel Appeal, Jewish Federations of North
America and United Israel Appeal Canada.
The construction of the units is being carried out by Amigour, as will be the ongoing rental and
maintenance management. The agreement constitutes a dramatic addition to public housing offerings in
Israel. This addition will significantly ease the process of receiving public housing for those who qualify
and will shorten the existing queue. This is an additional step toward equal opportunity and social justice
within Israeli society.
In 2017, the construction of some 180 units began on Derech Hashalom St. in Tel Aviv and in January
2018 construction has begun of 471 units in Ashkelon. During the course of 2018, the construction of
600-700 additional units is expected to begin in Ashdod, Beersheva, Herzliya, Netanya, Rehovot and Tel
Aviv, subject to permits.

Management Agreement with the Government – Amigour signed a management agreement with the
Government for the management of public housing apartments transferred to state ownership. Without
such a management agreement, there was a threat that the Government would transfer the
management of the apartments to the government-owned public housing company and Amigour would
lose its core business. The public housing management agreement ensures a steady economic basis for
Amigour’s activities. This agreement demonstrates the government’s recognition of Amigour’s
capabilities. The Government of Israel has stated it would implement the option of extending the
management agreement for another two years and has announced its intention to negotiate on the
subsequent management agreement and have it signed by the end of 2018.

Nursing Homes – Amigour runs six wards in two nursing homes, providing nursing care for 216 seniors
who are eligible for this. These nursing homes offer some of the highest standards in the country, and
their construction helps to provide a solution for the severe shortage of such facilities, particularly in the
north of the country. The construction work was made possible through the assistance of Collective Israel
Actie (Keren Hayesod- Holland) and the Paktor family.
The construction of three additional nursing wards, 108 beds all together, will be completed in April
2018, making a total of 9 nursing care wards, 324 beds. The Jewish Agency, through Amigour, is
providing solutions to the large demand for seniors housing and nursing facilities in the area north of
Haifa.

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