The city has suffered long-term economic stagnation and most big enterprises have closed in the past 20 years leaving the municipality and state institutions the main employers. There is significant emigration and most people who leave move to other European countries and send money to their families back home in Lom.
Key Facts
Population: 28,000
Country: Bulgaria
Overview
Lom is in the North-Western Montana region of Bulgaria – one of the poorest regions of Europe. Roma communities make up a very large fraction of the population, living across four segregated neighbourhoods. In fact, Lom has one the highest concentration of Roma people of all Bulgarian cities. The city has suffered long-term economic stagnation and most big enterprises have closed in the past 20 years. The municipality and state institutions remain the main employers locally and there is much outward migration. Most people who leave move to Germany, Italy, Spain or the UK, sending money to their families back home in Lom. Recently, the municipality has launched projects that offer alternatives to institutional care for people with disabilities. Lom has partnered with local, regional and national organisations to support projects that aim to improve the living conditions of disadvantaged groups.
Official deliverables
Lom Urban Story Our storymaps draw together insights on inequalities and policies affecting urban youth, across education, employment and housing, from the WP2 urban reports and data analyses.