On May 28, 2025, the forum “State-community partnership in addressing housing needs of internally displaced persons and war-affected population” was held in Kyiv. The event demonstrated that solving the housing issue is only possible through effective cooperation between the state, communities, and international partners, with an emphasis on reforms, legislative updates, and the scaling up of successful local programs.
The forum brought together representatives of central and local authorities, civil society, and international organizations. In particular, the list of participants included representatives from the Council of Europe Development Bank, the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine, the International Organization for Migration, the “Right to Protection” Charitable Foundation, the NGO “Group of Influence,” among others.
The highlight of the forum was the signing of an updated Memorandum between the Association of Ukrainian Cities and the State Fund for Support of Youth Housing Construction, aimed at expanding housing programs for vulnerable groups.
Forum participants discussed the following topics:
- financial-credit mechanisms for IDPs and veterans;
- social housing as a component of sustainable housing policy;
- the role of local programs;
- housing legislation reform;
- compensation and mortgage lending;
- attracting foreign investment.
Maciej Janczak, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine, delivered a welcome address to the forum participants: “This year marks 30 years of Ukraine’s membership in the Council of Europe. Over this time, we have supported an unprecedented number of activities. Housing, as a fundamental pillar of dignity and resilience, has received dedicated attention – including through a targeted housing track. This Forum offers an important opportunity to exchange best practices, forge partnerships, and co-create sustainable, people-centred housing solutions.”
Nataliia Kozlovska, Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, emphasized that the state is channelling all efforts into addressing the housing issue: “The implementation of sustainable tools at the local level, especially for veterans and displaced persons, is the right response to a systemic challenge. People are our main asset, and we must fight for them. We urge the Parliament to adopt the law on the fundamentals of housing policy, without which it is impossible to systematically realize citizens’ housing rights.”
Mykola Marchuk, Chair of the Board of the State Specialized Financial Institution «State Fund for Support of Youth Housing Construction», provided an overview of the institution’s activities and highlighted its cooperation with local authorities. This year, the Fund is implementing 60 local housing programs across various regions: 27 for youth, 17 comprehensive programs, and 18 targeted at IDPs and defenders of Ukraine. Another 36 programs are currently under development and expected to be adopted in 2025. “Each of these programs is tailored to the needs of specific communities, the integration of new residents, and the stimulation of economic activity,” emphasized Mykola Marchuk.
The forum’s livestream in English is available at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPy1angzxgk
The event was supported whining the project «Facilitation housing solutions for war-affected people in Ukraine. Phase II», which is implemented under the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine «Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction» 2023-2026.
