Public Housing Waitlist
Public housing for Ethiopian-Israelis and all eligible applicants: by income, family size, and asset status. New-immigrant priority applies for up to ~15 years from aliyah. Rejected? You can appeal to an exceptions committee.
Basic eligibility
- Israeli citizen/resident
- Property ownership: 0 (no apartment owned)
- Family income: under a ceiling that scales with family size
- Years married: at least 5 (for couples; single parents exempt)
Priority bumps
- Single-parent families with 2+ children
- Age 60+ without housing
- People with disabilities
- Holocaust survivors
- New immigrants in their first 7 years
How to apply
- Submit application to the Ministry of Construction & Housing
- Attach: ID, income proofs, land registry (tabu)
- Join the waitlist by geographic area
- Annual updates required โ otherwise dropped from list
Who actually manages the apartments?
Public-housing companies (Amidar, Amigor, Halamish, Shikmona) manage the apartment stock on behalf of the Ministry of Construction & Housing โ contacting the relevant company for your area speeds up status inquiries.
For Ethiopian-Israelis โ worth knowing
- The general "new immigrant" priority (which covers community members who made aliyah) grants a priority bump for up to ~15 years from aliyah โ this is the same general oleh right, not a dedicated Ethiopian-specific track.
- The eligibility certificate is valid for 4 years โ renew before it expires or you lose your place on the waitlist.
- If language or bureaucracy is a barrier, community organizations (e.g. via Tebeka โ see the "Free Legal Aid" right) can help with the application.
What to do if you're rejected
- Request the rejection reasons in writing from the Ministry of Construction & Housing or the managing housing company
- You can appeal to a Va'adat Chariggim ("exceptions committee") โ an internal committee reviewing cases that don't meet standard criteria but justify an exception
- If the appeal is also rejected โ consider a lawyer specializing in public housing, or Tebeka's free legal aid
- kolzchut.org.il maintains an up-to-date explainer of rights and the full appeal process
๐ Amidar: amidar.co.il ๐ Full rights & appeal info: kolzchut.org.il ๐ Ministry of Construction & Housing: *5442
Eligibility check
Are you eligible?
A few quick questions. Your answers are not sent anywhere โ the check runs locally in your browser.
This right in your city
- Jerusalem
- Beit Shemesh
- Ma'ale Adumim
- Netanya
- Rishon LeZion
- Rehovot
- Tel Aviv
- Petach Tikva
- Lod
- Ramla
- Ashdod
- Holon
- Bat Yam
- Yavne
- Kfar Saba
- Herzliya
- Modi'in
- Ashkelon
- Kiryat Gat
- Be'er Sheva
- Kiryat Malakhi
- Sderot
- Dimona
- Yerucham
- Eilat
- Netivot
- Arad
- Haifa
- Kiryat Ata
- Kiryat Bialik
- Carmiel
- Afula
- Acre
- Nahariya
- Kiryat Shmona
- Tiberias
- Safed
- Nof HaGalil
- Ma'alot-Tarshiha
Related rights
Mortgage for Ethiopian Israelis โ Community Mortgage, 600,000 ILS
The programme is real but **registration is closed** โ there is no open lottery, and the ministry has removed its programme pages. The terms as set: up to ILS 600,000 over 25 years, 0% interest for the first 10 years and 2% for the next 15.
Military Discharge Benefits for Ethiopian-Israeli Veterans
Ethiopian-Israeli discharged soldiers are entitled to a discharge grant of up to 120,000 ILS, an education scholarship, mortgage points, and preference in civil service.
Daycare Subsidy for Working Families
Subsidized daycare (ages 3 months โ 3 years) for families where both parents work. Amount calibrated by combined income.
Direct Absorption โ Falash Mura 2026 Pilot
2026 pilot โ Falash Mura olim placed directly into housing rather than absorption centers. Rolling out in cities with established community support frameworks. First direct-absorption deployment for the community.