Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun: "Core Role of Basic Local Government is to Fill Gaps in Welfare"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] Suwon Special City Mayor Lee Jae-jun stated that "the core role of basic local government is to supplement the blind spots in central government welfare policies and to serve as a link between the local community and marginalized neighbors."

Mayor Lee unveiled the "Self-Reliant Youth Share House CON (CON)" policy at the "Seoul·Gyeonggi Good Local Governance Policy Conference" held on the 21st in the Grand Hall of the new Gyeonggi Provincial Government building by the Good Local Government Council, and stated: "Basic local governments at the frontline with residents, as seen in the case of Share House CON, supplement welfare blind spots and serve the role of connecting the local community and underprivileged groups," adding that "thanks to residents of our community who care about the marginalized and participate together, we have been able to practice 'warm care.'"

At the Good Local Governance Policy Conference on that day, Mayor Lee Jae-jun and six other heads of basic local governments in Seoul·Gyeonggi presented their policies.

"Self-Reliant Youth Share House CON" presented by Mayor Lee Jae-jun is Suwon City's youth housing support policy. It provides a shared residential space for young people aged 29 or under who have terminated or mid-exited from child welfare facilities and are left in welfare blind spots, allowing them to live rent-free for two years while supporting self-reliance activities.

Three young people of the same gender live together in one house. On September 30 last year, two male youth first moved into Share House CON No. 1, and currently eight young people are residing in three facilities. Suwon City plans to open 10 or more Share Houses CON.

Residents are also provided with "self-reliance support services." They are supported in prioritizing the use of community youth-related services and provided with employment and entrepreneurship information. Additionally, local volunteer groups are matched with resident youth as mentors and mentees to support psychological and social stability, and those who complete their residency are provided with priority for public rental housing and security deposits.

Mayor Lee Jae-jun said, "I hope that self-reliant youth living in Share House CON and future residents will take root firmly by nourishing themselves with community warmth and bloom with happiness," and "I hope the concerns of self-reliant youth preparing to stand on their own feet will be reduced."

The Good Local Government Council, founded in October 2018, operates with the goals of ▲sharing domestic and international exemplary local administration cases such as citizen-oriented and life-oriented policies ▲comprehensive consultation to strengthen the substance of local government system such as local autonomy and decentralization ▲reciprocal cooperation among cities, counties, and districts for inclusive and mutual development.