Stakeholders Express Support to the Draft Law "On Fundamental Principles of Housing Policy" at the event "Housing for Inclusive and Sustainable Recovery"

Stakeholders from diverse sectors unite to support Ukraine's housing policy reform at the 'Housing for Inclusive and Sustainable Recovery' event.

On 25 June, a diverse group of stakeholders convened at the "Housing for Inclusive and Sustainable Recovery" event to discuss Ukraine’s housing policy reform, with a focus on the Draft Law “On Fundamental Principles of Housing Policy”. Participants included Ukrainian officials, municipal authorities, civil society representatives, as well as members of the European Union, the European Investment Bank, and other international institutions.

Mr. Vasyl Shkurakov, Acting Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine, outlined the Ministry’s key priorities for implementing housing policy reform. Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Ms. Nataliia Kozlovska emphasized the complexity of housing policy reform, highlighting the need for responsible yet swift decisions and  international support.

Ms. Daryna Marchak, First Deputy Minister of Social Policy, stressed the importance of regulating affordable housing rentals to encourage the return of Ukrainian citizens and improve the country’s demographic situation. Ms. Olga Altunina, representing the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, emphasized that creating favorable living conditions for citizens should be a priority in any legislative initiatives.

The UN4UkrainianCities project continues to support Ukraine's efforts towards sustainable urban development and housing policy reform.

Representatives of local self-government bodies, including the Association of Ukrainian Cities and the All-Ukrainian Association of Communities, voiced their support for the draft law. European Union and European Investment Bank representatives underscored the necessity of introducing mechanisms for affordable housing in Ukraine, including affordable rental options. Mr. Grzegorz Gajda, a representative of the European Investment Bank, noted that the Draft law removes legislative obstacles dating back to Soviet times, calling on the Government of Ukraine and the Parliament to expedite its adoption.

Members of the Ukrainian Parliament, public representatives, and local governments discussed the challenges and opportunities related to housing sector reforms, emphasizing the urgency of the reform and the critical role of local communities in its implementation.

During the roundtable discussions, UN4UkrainianCities’ experts Mr. Serhii Komnatnyi and Ms. Nataliia Korotchenko shared insights on the experiences of territorial communities and potential solutions to the issues hindering the development of social housing in Ukraine. Both highlighted the project’s results, underscored the next steps in supporting the Ministry of Infrastructure's efforts in reforming Ukraine's housing policy and the importance of collaboration between national and local authorities, international partners, and civil society in addressing this vital aspect of urban recovery.