The Ministry of Development and Rural Development team held an online meeting with NGOs that help advise IDPs from temporarily occupied territories regarding participation in the housing voucher program, which started on December 1. The meeting presented organizations, including the SOS East Foundation, the Congress of IDP Councils, the Influence Group, the SSS Foundation, the Tenth of April NGO, the Donbas SOS NGO, the Southern Development Strategy NGO, the Right to Protection Foundation, the Proliska NGO, and a number of other NGOs.
This is a component of the e-Recovery program for internally displaced persons who have left the temporarily occupied territories. Initially, the program applies to people who have the status of a combatant or persons with disabilities as a result of the war. They can apply for a housing voucher worth UAH 2 million through the Diya application.
“Own housing is the basis of security and stability for a family that was forced to leave their home due to the war. That is why we have launched a new component of the eRecovery program – housing vouchers – as the simplest and most transparent tool to support IDPs from temporarily occupied territories. The submission of applications is ongoing, and local commissions are already starting to process applications,” said Deputy Minister of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine Natalia Kozlovska.
Please note that the applicant must meet the following criteria:
previous place of residence – in the temporarily occupied territory (this is reflected in the IDP certificate);
the current IDP certificate indicates the place of residence in the territory controlled by Ukraine;
no criminal record for crimes against national security;
Also, the applicant and his family (husband/wife and minor children):
must not own other housing in the territory controlled by Ukraine (exception – an outstanding mortgage or housing in a zone of active hostilities);
must not have previously received housing assistance from the state;
must not have active applications or already received assistance within the framework of the e-Recovery program.
The process of obtaining a housing voucher begins with submitting an application through the mobile application “Diya”, which requires a prior update of the application to access the “Application for a housing voucher” service. After submission, the application is automatically submitted to the Commission at the local government body at the place of actual residence of the IDP (according to the certificate). The Commission processes this application, enters information about the voucher into the Register of Damaged and Destroyed Property, and the applicant receives a notification of the status “Application in Processing”. After the Commission’s decision is made, the applicant receives a corresponding notification.
The second part of the procedure concerns the booking and implementation of financing. In the event of a positive decision by the Commission, the applicant awaits an official notification about the possibility of financing under a housing voucher. After receiving a notification about such an opportunity through “Diya”, the person will submit an application for booking funds.
After confirming the booking (if there are free funds in the program), the applicant applies to a notary to draw up a purchase and sale agreement for an apartment or private house, or to use the funds for a down payment or to repay a mortgage payment. The notary registers the agreement and enters information into the Register, after which the final stage takes place – the transfer of funds to the seller or lender.
Specialists of the Ministry and the project team of the Register of Damaged and Destroyed Property in Ukraine explained in detail the procedure for submitting applications, the main criteria for participation and practical aspects of document processing. Particular attention was paid to the most common questions that arise from people seeking assistance. The questions concern the technical aspects of submitting an application through “Diya”, the terms of the program, the work of the commissions, updating statuses and the correctness of uploaded documents.
Details and conditions of participation in the program can be found on the website of the Ministry of Development and Trade. In case of additional questions regarding the terms of the program, applicants can contact the Government hotline 15-45 (button 2).