National Housing Institute launched in Ukraine to help expand affordable housing solutions for war-affected people

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) with support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, have today launched a National Housing Institute which will contribute with research as well as policy and practical guidance to inform the further development of housing solutions for war-affected, including internally displaced, people in Ukraine.
With more than 2 million homes damaged or destroyed due to the war, according to the Ukraine - Third Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA3), and access to safe and affordable housing being a top priority for millions of people across Ukraine, the National Housing Institute will serve as a research, think tank and innovation hub, supporting the Government of Ukraine to create policies and sustainable programmes that will expand access to safe and affordable housing for all Ukrainians. Through nationwide surveys, the Institute will collect data on available housing stock, including social and affordable options, particularly in the most war-affected regions. This information will be accessible through an online platform, providing real-time updates for national, local, and international stakeholders to inform housing solutions.
In addition to gathering and analyzing housing data, the Institute will act as an advisory body to the Government of Ukraine, reviewing existing housing regulations and advising on reforms aligned with international and European standards and the country’s and communities’ evolving needs. This work will culminate in a new legal framework that will guide housing programmes during and after the war, supporting both immediate recovery efforts and long-term rebuilding and housing solutions for those who remain internally displaced.
“We know from our work with war-affected people across Ukraine and our periodic intention surveys among forcibly displaced Ukrainians that access to a safe and affordable home is one of the primary factors for recovery and a key enabler of sustainable return. UNHCR is therefore pleased to support the establishment of a National Housing Institute that will contribute to evidence-based laws, policies and programs that will practically help millions of Ukrainians, who have lost their house or apartment during Russia’s full-scale invasion, to have a home again,” says Karolina Lindholm Billing, UNHCR Representative in Ukraine.
“The establishment of the Housing Institute in Ukraine marks a significant milestone as it will be the first think tank dedicated to housing in the country. For the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), spearheading this initiative is an immense honor. We are equally thrilled and grateful for the remarkable support we have received from both the Ukrainian government and international stakeholders in launching this project. We are fully committed to ensuring the successful implementation of the Housing Institute. Our goal is to contribute to the development of a housing system that not only provides adequate housing but also promotes sustainability for all Ukrainians,” said Roberto Vila-Sexto, country director at NRC Ukraine.
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, providing safe and dignified housing to millions of displaced people in Ukraine has been a top priority for UNHCR. To date, UNHCR has repaired over 30,000 homes and continues to work in partnership with regional and local authorities to rehabilitate social housing across the country. Also, UNHCR offers legal assistance to people whose homes were damaged or destroyed, enabling them to apply for state compensation. UNHCR and the Ukraine Shelter Cluster are operating SIDAR, or Shelter Information Damage Assessment and Response Database, to facilitate improved coordination of humanitarian assistance among beneficiaries, local authorities, and humanitarian organizations, linking to the Governmental Register of Damaged and Destroyed Property (RDDP) system.