Riga’s municipality continues its efforts to support families with tailor-made policies; here are some examples of what has been accomplished so far.
A new support service to help resolve parental disputes
In order to provide timely and professional support to families with minor children in situations where there are disagreements between parents or where it is difficult for them to get along, the Latvian SOS Children’s Villages Association is launching a new support service called “Parents for the Benefit of the Child”, funded by the Riga Municipal Orphan’s Court.
The service is intended for situations where disputes can still be resolved with the help of specialists, before the orphan’s court or a court of law become involved. Such support is particularly important during or after a divorce, when the relationship between the parents also has a significant impact on the child’s well-being. Parents are therefore encouraged to seek help as soon as the first signs of conflict arise.
The service is tailored for families:
- in which divorce proceedings are taking place or have taken place;
- where parents experience difficulties in communicating with one another about their child;
- where there are disagreements regarding the care, upbringing or contact with the child;
- where professional and emotional support is needed to build a cooperation for the child’s benefit.
As part of the support service, families will have access to:
- consultations with specialists,
- individual or joint consultations with a psychologist and/or family psychotherapist for parents and children,
- individual support for the child.
Once an application has been received, the first consultation is arranged within three working days.
The service is free of charge and available to families in Riga with minor children, provided that at least one parent or the child is registered as a resident of Riga.
The housing waiting list in Riga continues to shrink, particularly among families with many children
During the first five months of this year, a positive trend in Riga has continued – the number of registered residents seeking assistance with housing issues has declined, as requests for housing assistance from those on the waiting list are being met at a faster rate. While the total number of registered households was 1,507 on 1 January, by 1 June this figure had fallen to 1,389.
The most notable reduction occurred among low-income families with many children, where registered applicants dropped by 23 percent, from 138 to 106. Other key categories also saw declines:
- Applicants registered for social housing or accommodation decreased from 748 to 719.
- Orphans and children without parental care on the list fell from 417 to 383.
Council officials attribute part of the progress to a policy focused on reallocating housing according to current family sizes.
“By reviewing the use of flats allocated under the assistance program in line with current needs and regulatory criteria, we have encouraged the rotation of flats amongst clients, allocating larger flats to larger households,” said Elīna Treija, Chair of the Riga City Council’s Housing and Environment Committee.
Reflecting this shift, the register for residents seeking to exchange their current council-rented properties rose from 48 to 55. Officials view this increase as a positive indicator of efficient resource management, as smaller households downsize into compact units, freeing up larger homes for bigger families.
The waitlist reduction is also supported by infrastructure development. Through Phase 1 of an EU co-financed project, 210 municipal flats are currently undergoing renovation. A second phase is projected to add another 203 refurbished flats to the rental market by 2027.
Information by Antra Gabre, Project Coordinator of the External Communication Department of Riga City Council
phone: +371 29422038
email: antra.gabre@riga.lv
Greater support for foster families and guardians
The Riga Social Services Department has recorded a swift response to its newly updated support system for foster families and guardians, receiving 75 applications for child maintenance and 29 for foster care duties by early this week. The surge in applications is largely driven by foster families living outside Riga who care for children under the jurisdiction of the Riga Orphan’s Court—a group previously ineligible for municipal aid.
Effective July 1, the Riga City Council expanded both the scope and funding of these benefits to strengthen family-like environments for children without parental care. The financial updates include:
- Foster Duty Benefit: Available to all eligible foster families regardless of their primary residence. The municipal benefit rises to €872 per month in 2026. Combined with state funding, total support equals 1.5 times the national minimum wage.
- Child Maintenance Benefit: The combined state and local aid now covers 75% of the national minimum wage (€585 per month per child). In 2026, Riga’s local contribution will provide €195 monthly for children under 7, and €117 monthly for youth aged 7 to 17.
- Clothing and Furnishings: Maintained at €200 annually for children under 7, and €250 annually for ages 7 through 18.
- Guardian Support: Updated to €50 monthly for one child whose parents are deceased, and €60 monthly per additional child or for children whose parents have lost parental rights.
All benefits are granted without assessing household income or financial circumstances. Foster families receive funding starting from the date of the child’s placement, whereas guardians are eligible from their application date. Submissions are accepted in person or electronically via a secure digital signature.
Further guidance is available through the Riga Orphan’s Court and five local out-of-home care support centers: “Dūja”, “Tilts”, “Dzeguzēns”, “AIRI vecākiem”, and “Plecs”.
Information by Antra Gabre, Project Coordinator of the External Communication Department of Riga City Council
phone: +371 29422038
email: antra.gabre@riga.lv