Housing voucher programme: Ministry for Communities and Territories Development holds coordination meeting with civil society organisations assisting IDPs

The Ministry for Communities and Territories Development team held an online meeting with public organisations that help advise IDPs from temporarily occupied territories on participating in the housing voucher programme, which started on 1 December.

This is a component of the eVidnovlennia programme for internally displaced persons who have left temporarily occupied territories. Initially, the programme applies to people who have the status of combatants or persons with disabilities as a result of the war. They can apply for a housing voucher worth UAH 2 million through the Diia app.

"Having your own home is the foundation of security and stability for a family that has been forced to leave their home because of the war. That is why we have launched a new component of the eVidnovlennia programme – housing vouchers – as the simplest and most transparent tool for supporting IDPs from the temporarily occupied territories. Applications are still being accepted, and local commissions are already starting to process them," said Natalia Kozlovska, Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine.

As a reminder, applicants must meet the following criteria:

their previous place of residence was in a temporarily occupied territory (as indicated in their IDP certificate);

their current IDP certificate indicates their place of residence in a territory controlled by Ukraine;

they have no criminal record for crimes against national security;

In addition, the applicant and their family (spouse and minor children) must meet the following criteria:

- Own no other property in the territory controlled by Ukraine (exceptions include outstanding mortgages or property located in active combat zones).

- Not have previously received housing assistance from the state.

- Not have any active applications or have already received assistance under the eVidnovlennia programme.

The process of obtaining a housing voucher begins with submitting an application through the Diia mobile app, which requires a prior update of the app to access the ‘Housing Voucher Application’ service. After submission, the application is automatically sent to the Commission at the local government body at the place of actual residence of the IDP (according to the certificate). The commission processes the application, enters the voucher information into the Register of Damaged and Destroyed Property, and the applicant receives a notification that the application is being processed. Once the commission has made a decision, the applicant receives a notification.

The second part of the procedure concerns the reservation and disbursement of funds. If the Commission's decision is positive, the applicant waits for official notification of the possibility of financing through a housing voucher. After receiving notification of this possibility through the Diia, the person submits an application for the reservation of funds.

After confirmation of the reservation (if there are funds available in the programme), the applicant contacts a notary to formalise the purchase and sale agreement for an apartment or private house, or to use the funds for a down payment or mortgage repayment. The notary registers the agreement and enters the information into the Register, after which the final stage takes place — the transfer of funds to the seller or creditor.

Specialists from the Ministry and the project team of the Register of Damaged and Destroyed Property in Ukraine explained in detail the procedure for submitting applications, the main criteria for participation, and the practical aspects of processing documents. Particular attention was paid to the most common questions asked by people seeking assistance. The questions concern the technical aspects of submitting an application through the Diia, the terms of the programme, the work of the commissions, status updates and the correctness of the uploaded documents.

More information is available at the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine official website.