Press Conference of the Coalition of Human Rights Organizations on the Risks of Merging Derzhmolodzhytlo and Ukrfinzhytlo

“Over the course of Derzhmolodzhytlo’s work, more than 1,600 families have gotten housing. Another selection stage is scheduled for May this year, with nearly 1,500 beneficiaries expected to be selected. This demonstrates the institutional development of the agency and shows that it has gained momentum in providing housing to an increasing number of people,” said Yaroslav Taranets, Advocacy Specialist at East SOS, speaking about the work of Derzhmolodzhytlo (State Fund for Support of Youth Housing Construction), which is currently at risk of being merged with Ukrfinzhytlo (Ukrainian Financial Housing Company).

On May 6, the Coalition of organizations working to protect the rights of those affected by armed aggression against Ukraine held a press conference. During the event, participants spoke in detail about the risk of thousands of people – internally displaced persons, veterans, and young people – losing access to opportunities for obtaining their own housing.

The participants once again called on the government to refrain from reorganization and halt the merger of Derzhmolodzhytlo with an institution operating as a commercial structure through banking mechanisms.

The speakers emphasized that Derzhmolodzhytlo is effectively the only efficient mechanism for providing housing to economically active internally displaced persons. They also warned that if housing support programs are transferred exclusively to a banking model, this would mean stricter requirements for lenders and reduced chances of obtaining housing for vulnerable groups.

The following speakers participated in the event:

• Yaroslav Taranets, Advocacy Specialist at East SOS and member of the Council on IDP in the Kyiv City Military Administration;
• Kseniia Heds, Advocacy Coordinator at CF “The Right to Protection”;
• Viktoriia Zolotukhina, Executive Director of the Civil Holding “GROUP OF INFLUENCE”;
• Serhii Karelin, civic activist and internally displaced person;
• Oleksii Smyrnov, First Deputy Head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration.

The meeting was moderated by Alona Lunova, Advocacy Director at the Human Rights Center ZMINA.

More than one hundred people attended the press conference, including internally displaced persons who are currently on the waiting list for housing. They personally urged the government to refrain from adopting a decision that would dismantle a mechanism that is functioning and remains a source of hope for many families.

We call on citizens to support this position statement and share information about a problem that impacts thousands of Ukrainians.

The full video recording of the event is available via the link.

As a reminder, in April the Coalition of Human Rights Organizations released a position statement regarding the proposal to merge Derzhmolodzhytlo and Ukrfinzhytlo