International Organizations Are Getting Involved in Solving the IDPs’ Housing Issue
Today, on November 14, leader of the State Fund for Support of Youth Housing Construction Serhii Komnatnyi took part in the diplomatic breakfast for the representatives of embassies of foreign states and international organizations upon invitation of charitable foundation “A Right to Protection”. The event was organized to draw attention to the housing problems of internally displaced persons. Elina Shyshkina, a legal analyst of this charitable organization, prepared a presentation on analytical review of housing programs, the IDPs may use.
Serhii Komnatnyi dwelled upon the novelties of program “Affordable housing” in his speech, the only state program providing IDPs with permanent housing today. The Head of the State Fund for Support of Youth Housing Construction emphasized the readiness to suggest a number of sustainable solutions to the IDPs’ housing issue, in particular, to elaborate pilot projects with the participation of international donors jointly with local authorities. Such pilot projects may be housing cooperatives for IDPs, rental and social housing programs.
The leader of the Fund said, - “For getting specific results we should compile constructive proposals and the action plan. I suggest:
- Considering the possibility to start negotiations regarding cooperation with the Council of Europe Development Bank in pursuance of PACE resolution (2198). They have long-standing experience with such programs implementation.
- Drafting the Law of Ukraine on Housing Strategy taking into account the best practices of the European Union. To do this, we should involve the best experts and practitioners in this domain, that, in its turn, envisages the involvement of international technical assistance;
- Participating in investment projects, as far as the legislation defines other financing sources, but for the state and local budgets”.
The Head of the State Youth Fund drew attention of the diplomatic breakfast’s participants to the institution’s openness and readiness for a dialogue with NGOs, international institutions seeking sustainable solutions to ensuring IDPs’ housing rights.
The representative of the German Development Bank (KfW) thanked Serhii Komnatnyi for the Fund’s fruitful work.
Such influential international organizations, as the UNCHR, the UN Refugee Agency, the International Organization for Migration, the German Development Bank (KfW), the Council of Europe, as well as diplomatic corps representatives participated in the meeting.
The parties expressed decisiveness towards further work seeking to solve the IDPs’ housing issue.