Depaul Ukraine in partnership with the London Homelessness Foundation brought together government officials, international homelessness partners and civil society at Ukraine’s first-ever roundtable event to discuss social housing as a tool to address homelessness.
Depaul Ukraine, which has worked to end homelessness in Ukraine since 2007, has seen an increase in homelessness since the start of the full-scale invasion.
A staggering 3.5 million people have been internally displaced within the country, and research from Depaul Ukraine found that almost a quarter (22%) of those sleeping rough became homeless as a direct result of being displaced by the conflict.
Director of Depaul Ukraine, Anna Skoryk said:
“Ukraine is currently facing a homelessness crisis. The number of people seeking help from our shelters has tripled since the start of the full-scale invasion.
As representatives of the civic sector, we are trying to support the state in responding to this challenge. It is clear that systemic and strategic solutions are needed at the government level.”
Housing policy in Ukraine is currently being reformed to facilitate the development of affordable social housing. Draft laws, ‘On the Basic Principles of Housing Policy’ and ‘On Social Housing’ are being developed to ensure the protection of vulnerable groups.
In response, Depaul Ukraine held the roundtable to develop policy recommendations and ensure that provision for those experiencing homelessness is included in the draft law ‘On Social Housing.’
Experts from the London Homelessness Foundation emphasised the importance of Ukraine prioritising Housing First as a tool to end homelessness, in line with European standards. They also recommended that homelessness should be integrated into the agendas of both the social and housing departments, to ensure ministers can more effectively address homelessness.
Government representatives in attendance, including delegates from the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine and the Ministry of Communities and Territories Development, highlighted the importance of Housing First provision and subsidising rent for those experiencing homelessness.
Depaul Ukraine presented their vision for supporting those experiencing homelessness, including social housing policies being shaped by international best practice but taking the Ukrainian context into consideration. This includes the high risk of homelessness among veterans. Ukraine’s Deputy Minister for Veteran Affairs, Ruslan Prykhodko, noted that the ministry is already implementing housing programmes for veterans to prevent homelessness.
Director of the London Homelessness Foundation, Ian Brady said:
“Countries such as the United Kingdom and the former Yugoslavia have shown that it is possible to resolve a homelessness crisis after major conflicts, but this requires significant investment.
The solution can begin at the community level, where people understand the needs and support required for individuals experiencing homelessness. For Ukraine, it is important to combine both approaches – working simultaneously at the national and local levels.”