Ukraine Faces Unprecedented Housing Crisis Amid War

Rescue workers extinguish a fire in a residential building in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.

Ukraine is facing what has been described as an “unprecedented housing crisis” three and a half years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of the Eastern European country.

More than 236,000 buildings have been destroyed or damaged during the war, and over 2.5 million housing units – around 10 per cent of the housing stock – have been damaged or remain inaccessible due to the ongoing conflict.

A shortage of municipal housing, combined with an under-regulated rental market and the large-scale displacement of people fleeing the war, has placed severe pressure on housing availability and affordability, according to a report released by the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The UN estimates that around 10.6 million Ukrainians have been forced to flee their homes – almost a quarter of the pre-war population – the majority of whom have left the country.

Two-thirds of the 3.7 million people who remain displaced have struggled to pay for their new accommodation. For many, dependence on the rental market has exhausted family savings.

Financial burden

According to the report, the “financial burden of rent continues to weigh heavily on displaced households”, as many are forced to spend 50 per cent or more of their income on rent.

With the war in Ukraine ongoing, meeting the housing needs of displaced Ukrainians remains a critical priority.

“IOM is dedicated to helping internally displaced people, and the communities hosting them, build lasting futures. This includes training for new skills, connecting people with jobs, and securing stable homes,” said Robert Turner, IOM Ukraine’s Chief of Mission.

Humanitarian and development partners continue to support displaced people in accessing housing through financial and legal assistance, as well as through livelihood initiatives, complementing local authorities’ efforts to expand or rehabilitate municipal housing.