Damage in Kherson (archive). More than a million displaced Ukrainians are forced to spend all their savings on rent Refugees and Migrants
Millions of Ukrainians, driven from their homes by the ongoing war, face a severe housing problem. Many are forced to rely on the rental market and thus deplete family savings. This is stated in a new report from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
According to the latest data compiled by IOM, more than half of the 3.7 million internally displaced people—54 percent—are living in rented housing, compared with just six percent of those who were able to stay.
About 2.5 million people own homes that are currently unaffordable for them. More than half—60 percent—of these dwellings are officially considered damaged and therefore unsafe to inhabit.
The financial burden of rent continues to weigh heavily on displaced families. Two-thirds of displaced renters (more than 1.3 million people) use their savings to pay rent. One in four displaced Ukrainians who spend 50 percent or more of their income on rent have already exhausted their savings.
The situation is aggravated by the fact that the average monthly income of displaced people seeking housing for rent – 16 thousand hryvnia ($380) – is significantly lower than the approximately 30 thousand hryvnia ($700) they are asking for tenants.
As the war continues, addressing the housing needs of internally displaced Ukrainians remains a critical issue.
“IOM is committed to helping internally displaced people and their host communities build a sustainable future. This includes training in new skills, assistance in finding employment and providing stable housing,” said Robert Turner, head of the IOM mission for Ukraine.