Housing Fund Management Models for Ukraine: The Estonian Experience
Local housing structure in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Photo credits: Kharkiv City.
1 December 2023 10:00-12:00 CET
Background
This workshop was organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the Ministry of Restoration of Ukraine, the Estonian Union of Cooperative Housing Associations (EKYL), and Housing Ukraine, in partnership with the Estonian Center for International Development (ESTDEV).
The workshop focused on Housing Management Models for Ukraine by drawing on the Estonian experience, and was attended by over 80 participants.
The significance of housing policy in Ukraine
UN4UkrainianCities project manager, Ms. Thamara Fortes, opened the seminar by emphasizing UNECE’s support for the efforts of the Ukrainian Ministry towards modernizing the housing policy framework. She highlighted that one component of the project specifically focuses on this topic.
“This is just the first workshop on housing management mechanisms, and I am confident it won’t be the last. I hope it will provide strong momentum for further work and search for effective tools that will be useful for Ukraine.”
There are numerous UNECE studies that clearly indicate the importance of housing policy on the overall socio-economic status of a country. In this light, UNECE experts are supporting the Ministry and the Government of Ukraine to implement the following guiding principles of the UN Geneva Charter on Sustainable Housing into the legislative framework of Ukraine: environmental protection, economic efficiency, social integration and participation, cultural adequacy.
The Estonian experience
During the workshop, representatives from the Ministry of Restoration presented the main problematic issues underlying the existing housing management system in Ukraine, as well as the concept planned to be incorporated into the future Draft Law of Ukraine on Housing Management.
Similarly, EKYL and ESTDEV shared the Estonian experience in forming a system for managing multi-apartment residential buildings, as well as possible financial support mechanisms. Head of the board of EKYL, Mr. Andres Jaadla, provided specific expertise on the main stages involved in conducting housing reform.
Following the workshop, a report of recommendations was published based on the preceding materials and discussions.