State and international resources, though significant, cannot instantly solve the housing problem for millions of Ukrainians who have lost their homes due to the war. In the Verkhovna Rada, non-standard ways to resolve the crisis are being sought, and one of them is the proposal to involve local budgets in the 'eRenovation' program.
Elena Shulyak, Head of the Parliamentary Committee on State Power and Local Self-Government, noted on 'Novyny.LIVE' that the compensation mechanism has been functioning for three years, but its effectiveness directly depends on the availability of real financing. Issuing a certificate without money does not save people, so the search for resources continues both internationally and within the country.
The 'eOselya' model as an example to follow
Currently, part of the funds for the program are provided by international partners: the World Bank supports the direction of compensation for damaged housing, and the Council of Europe Development Bank finances certificates for those whose homes have been completely destroyed. However, Shulyak believes that local self-government bodies can and should become more actively involved in the process.
Similar practice is already successfully working within the framework of the 'eOselya' program. Individual cities and regions compensate part of the down payment or interest rate for certain categories of citizens. Among the leaders of this initiative, Shulyak named Kryvyi Rih, Ternopil, and Mykolaiv.
Potential of community budgets from TOT territories
Of particular interest to parliamentarians are the budgets of communities from temporarily occupied territories (TOT). Despite the occupation, these budgets continue to receive funds from entrepreneurs and businesses registered there.
As an example, the deputy cited some communities in the Luhansk region. There, people are already allocated 250 thousand hryvnias for the down payment under the 'eOselya' program, and the Sievierodonetsk administration has launched a program for IDPs over 60 years old.
"They are maximally involved in ensuring that the budgets of these temporarily occupied communities are used to solve the housing issue. Here it is important to research and see how people specifically from TOT communities can receive appropriate financing from the budgets of these communities," Shulyak explained.
She also reminded that officials of communities from TOT continue to work despite the occupation and are often internally displaced persons themselves. Another direction of support could be the construction of housing for residents of occupied cities in other regions of Ukraine. A bright example is the joint project of Mariupol and Bila Tserkva, where a separate quarter for Mariupol residents is planned.
New law for frontline zones
Separate attention in parliament is paid to the compensation mechanism for frontline and factually completely destroyed settlements, where it is impossible to conduct a standard inspection of each house.
To this end, in 2024, draft law No. 11444 was registered. The document provides for the possibility of recognizing not individual apartments or houses, but entire streets, quarters, or settlements as unfit for habitation. This will allow people to receive housing certificates faster without additional procedures.
"We will hope that this draft law will come to the session hall in the near future," Shulyak concluded.
Recall that in Ukraine since 2022, a compensation program for employers for hiring internally displaced persons has been in effect. Business can receive payments in the amount of the minimum wage for each hired IDP. According to the State Employment Center, in 2024-2025, about 7,100 employers used the program annually.