Cabinet approves affordable rental housing pilot for vulnerable Ukrainians

On Wednesday, July 2, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal by the Ministry for Communities and Territorial Development to launch a two-year pilot project aimed at creating a municipal (social) rental housing fund. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and government representative to the Verkhovna Rada, Taras Melnychuk.

The initiative is designed to provide affordable housing to the most vulnerable segments of the population: veterans, families of fallen defenders, active-duty military personnel, internally displaced persons (IDPs), orphans, as well as teachers, doctors, and municipal workers.

According to the standard, each unit will offer 40 square meters of living space for a family of two.

All apartments will be fully furnished and equipped with household appliances, making them ready for immediate occupancy.

"Rent will be calculated using a special formula that reflects the conditions of each specific region. The monthly cost will be significantly below market rates and therefore accessible to low-income families. On average, tenants will pay around UAH 6,000 per month for a single-room apartment," Shmyhal said.

Housing construction will be commissioned by local governments. Funding will come from local budgets, as well as loans and grants provided by international partners.

To accelerate implementation and reduce construction costs, the project will use standardized design solutions.

• According to Serhiy Sukhomlyn, head of the State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development, social housing should also become a motivating factor for the return of Ukrainians from abroad.
• The pilot project envisions the construction of approximately 6,200 apartments.