MOSCOW, July 25, 2007 Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents information concerning where the respondents obtain information about the national priority project "Affordable Housing", to what extent they are informed of the main goals of the project and whether they await positive changes on the housing market in this respect.

Central television is the main information source for Russians about the national project "Affordable Housing" (two thirds of the respondents mention it - 67%). Far behind it is the regional and local television (18%) occupying the second place, nearly as many respondents (14% for each option) mention central radio, the press and the "grapevine" (conversations with colleagues, neighbors and relatives) as information sources about the project. Regional press (9%); regional and local radio (6%); brochures, bulletins, information stands (3%) and the Internet (3%) were mentioned more rarely.

If 12% of the respondents living in Moscow and Saint Petersburg obtain housing project related information from the Internet, only 2%-3% of the respondents living in other cities and villages do. However, the role of the regional and local television is less important in the capitals (2%) than in other populated areas (16%-23%), just as the role of regional press (1% and 8%-12%). Central radio is used more rarely as an information source about the project in the capitals and the non-urban area (9%-10%) than in large (21%), medium-size and small cities (15%-16%). Whereas the smaller the city or town, the higher the meaning of the "grapevine" there is, (cf.: 9% in Moscow and Saint Petersburg and 19% in small cities).

Among the four most important tasks of the "Affordable Housing" project for the years 2006-2007, that were marked out by the President of the country, Russians best of all know about the increase in volume of real estate lending, and also an increase in the housing affordability for young families. 18%-19% of the respondents indicate that they have heard about these two tasks; 64%-65% assume that they have heard something about them. Whereas 16% do not know anything about them. The task to increase the volumes of home construction activity and modernize the objects of municipal infrastructure is less known (13% know about it, 55% heard something about it, 32% do know anything about it). The task to fulfil the state obligations to provide housing for specific categories of citizens - veterans, physically challenged people and the like is the one least of all known to Russians (11% are well informed of it, 48% are only a little informed of it, 40% do not know about this task for project).

14%-15% of the respondents in each group mentioned that they themselves or a member of their family observed or personally encountered during the last year and a half the fact that the young families obtain subsidies for housing acquisition or for their first payment on the real estate mortgage; and also that people already improved or are improving their housing conditions at present with the aid of a mortgage (not using the program for the young families). Cases when young specialists in the country or families of soldiers, dismissed into the reserve obtain housing were encountered more rarely (6% each). Still less know are cases of obtaining the subsidy for housing acquisition by people, who had been queuing for it; obtaining housing of the queuing people among veterans and physically challenged people; by the forced migrants; by participants in overcoming the consequences of radiation emergencies and catastrophes; by citizens, who have left the regions of the extreme North and regions equated to them (1%-3% for each option). The majority of the respondents did not encounter anything of the kind (61%). Moreover, if among the respondents with high estimation of own financial standing only every second respondent (47%) did not have a possibility to personally improve his/her housing conditions or to observe, as it occurs in his/her nearest environment or family; but in the groups of those with middle and low estimation of own financial standing the majority of the respondents did not encounter anything of the kind (59% and 73%).

Every tenth respondent assumes that there already are positive changes in the situation in the housing sphere due to the implementation of the "Affordable Housing" project. 11% of the respondents expect such changes to happened soon (in 1,5-2,5 years), 25% think that the changes with come later - not earlier than in 2,5-3 years. Another one fourth of the respondents (27%) do not count on positive changes caused by the project. Just as many (27%) find it difficult to provide a forecast. Young people are disposed more optimistic than the respondents of average and, all the more, elder age. Consider that the positive changes has already been located, 15% 18-24- summer of those interrogated and 7% at the age "60+"; hope for the progress in this sphere soon 15% of young people and 7% of people of pension age; they do not forecast positive changes 14% in the group of 18-24 years, 25% 25-34- summer and 30% of respondents is older than 35 years.

Another quarter of the respondents (27%) do not expect any positive changes from the project. Just as many (27%) find it difficult to provide a forecast. The youth are more optimistically disposed than the respondents of in the middle age group and, all the more so, than the older respondents. 15% of the respondents in the age group of 18-24 years and 7% of respondents at the age of 60 and more think that some positive changes have already taken place; 15% of the youth and 7% of pensioners hope that these changes will occur soon; 14% in the group of 18-24 years, 25% in the age group of 25-34 and 30% of respondents of 35 years  and older do not expect any positive changes.

The All-Russia opinion poll was conducted by VCIOM on July 21-22, 2007. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 153 population areas of 46 regions of Russia. The statistical error does not exceed 3.4%.