Public Housing Stock Sees Modest Growth After Decade of Decline

Israel's public housing stock experienced a slight increase in 2025, marking a reversal after more than a decade of decline. According to a report from the Housing and Construction Ministry's Housing Authority, the total number of public housing units rose to 47,299 by the end of 2025, an increase of just 156 units from the previous year. This represents a net gain of approximately 0.3%. Concurrently, the average waiting time for a public housing unit decreased by six months, from 44 to 38 months.

The report highlights that the public housing stock had significantly shrunk between 2012 and 2022, falling by 19% from 60,100 to 49,100 units. This decline was largely attributed to the sale of units to existing tenants under the Public Housing Law, which outpaced the acquisition of new units. Between 2014 and 2024, 15,582 units were sold, while only 3,867 were purchased by the state.

Alongside public housing, the ministry also provides significant rental assistance in the private market. In 2025, an average of 200,000 low-income households received monthly rental subsidies totaling approximately 2.8 billion shekels. The "Stable and Safe Rent" program, launched in 2024, offers enhanced rental assistance as an alternative to waiting for public housing, with 268 households participating in 2025.

The report also details other housing authority activities, including the renovation of units damaged during Operation "Iron Swords," assistance to families displaced by the conflict, and the integration of public housing units into urban renewal projects. Additionally, it notes the "Apartment at a Discount" program, which saw 151,874 households register in 2025, with a particular focus on reservist soldiers, who received increased priority.

However, the Public Housing Forum criticized the ministry's report, calling the "halt in decline" a public relations tactic. They argued that the decrease in waiting lists is due to stricter eligibility criteria rather than increased supply. The Forum also pointed out the lack of dedicated budgets for acquiring new units or for the renovation and maintenance of existing ones, suggesting that the rise in rental assistance primarily benefits landlords.