According to the statement by residents, they were placed there as of 1990 by the Kochani municipal authorities. In the same year, the Kochani municipality issued indefinite residence permit for each Roma family, all families who have been accommodated are homeless.

The community is exposed to dislocation, the municipality said to residents that the ASNOM Military barrack is within the competence of the Law University “Goce Delcev” and the university is a private one so it depends on the university when the Roma community will be dislocated. The intention of the university is to build a student dormitory in the place where the Roma reside now. 

The residents reported that they were constantly subjected to dislocation (eviction). Furthermore, the Roma had several consultative meetings with the municipal authorities at the premises of the municipality and were notified verbally not officially though that they would be dislocated to unknown location, but as of 2019 it was not followed by action neither by the university nor the municipality [11]. 

Residents have limited access to water. In fact, the water supply company provides only one water line. There are two public taps which are set in the yard and are used by the whole community, and one individual tap inside an improvised house, which has been built by a Roma resident next to the military barrack [2] [1]. The line (or pipe), has been released but the Roma themselves installed the taps, and were complaining that the water pressure is very low when all taps are in use, as the single available water line divides itself to all three taps. As for the quality of water, the Roma expressed their doubts about its cleanliness, as in many occasions they have noticed black particles in the water. The water has not been tested [1][2].

Additional issue for Roma is that there is no sewage [1].

Residents have improvised electricity, acquiring it from a nearby pole. As they do not have electricity meters, they do not pay the electricity bill. The improvised electricity is a source of constant danger - the residents stated that there are at least six fires caused by the improvised electricity every year [1].

The housing situation in general affects the health of the Roma. In particular, children are exposed to and at risk of skin infections constantly, this especially happens during summer [1].

There is a garbage container nearby the military barracks which is also used by non-Roma. This container is excluded from the garbage collection organized by the municipality [1].

Moreover, the building itself is very old and is collapsing. There is a danger of the ceilings falling down and the residents are afraid that this might happen while they sleep and when there is heavy rain [1]. 

In addition, the community faces dislocation. According to the residents, the municipality of Kochani visited them ten days ago and announced verbally that they were planning to relocate the community to a location which was not specified and that they will grant them barracks. However, as of now, there is no written notice, and verbal promises have not been followed by action [1].

All of the residents are unemployed. Most are beneficiaries of social assistance which amount to 30 euro per family [1].

Another issue which was reported by the Roma was with regard to not having access to the Center for Social Work. Every time they want to talk to an official, they are stopped at the door by the guards and are told that the official is not present [1].

On 27 September, 2019, Roma reported that a Roma MP visited them two weeks before and promised that they will be re-housed by the end of this year [1].