Starting August 1, 2026, new rules for providing housing vouchers to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ukraine will come into force. The Cabinet of Ministers has approved Resolution No. 723, which significantly alters the criteria for receiving state aid. The goal of these innovations is to optimize budget expenditures and concentrate funds on citizens who truly have no alternative housing.

Who will lose the right to a voucher

According to the updated regulations, from August 1, certain categories of displaced persons will be deprived of the right to receive a housing voucher. Although the full list of exceptions in the text of the resolution requires detailed study, the key principle becomes the absence of own housing and non-participation in other support programs.

It is important to note that the new rules will not have retroactive effect. Displaced persons who have already received a voucher or submitted an application before the resolution enters into force will retain their rights. State assistance remains available for those who:

  • Do not own housing;
  • Have not participated in the "єОселі" program;
  • Are registered in temporarily occupied territories prior to the start of the occupation.

Interaction with the "єОселі" program

One of the main changes is the prohibition of a certain sequence of actions. From August 1, displaced persons are prohibited from first registering for the "єОселі" program and then applying for a housing voucher for the same mortgage. The system now works in the reverse order: it is permitted to receive a voucher first and then use it as a down payment at a bank.

However, to realize this opportunity, the adoption of corresponding legislation is necessary. The Verkhovna Rada must approve Bill No. 15335, which will technically regulate the procedure for crediting the voucher against the down payment. If the document is supported by deputies, displaced persons will be able to turn a housing voucher into seed capital for purchasing their own home or apartment.

Important nuances for displaced persons

Despite the adoption of the new law on displaced persons, the IDP certificate currently does not require replacement. Citizens are also not recommended to re-register if they are already on the registry.

In July of the current year, the Cabinet of Ministers also updated the procedure for the functioning of temporary accommodation sites for IDPs. Settlement conditions, housing monitoring mechanisms, and grounds for eviction have changed.

Special attention should be paid to families who received IDP status back in 2014. If such families did not relocate again after the start of the full-scale invasion, they may face a refusal to assign assistance for children.