Parliament discussed necessary measures to facilitate the return of Ukrainians from abroad.

In addition to the safety factor, namely the end of the war and the establishment of a just peace, there are two other significant factors that will influence Ukrainians' desire to return home from abroad. These are employment opportunities and housing security, notes the chairperson of the "Servant of the People" party, Member of Parliament Yelena Shulyak.

In the context of addressing housing issues, she explains that the government must act in three directions: continue the "eVidnovlennya" program, which provides Ukrainians with compensation for repairs, purchases, or restoration of housing; make the "eOselya" mortgage program more accessible; and create a new, effective housing policy that operates under the conditions of the Housing Code from 40 years ago.

Regarding "eVidnovlennya," Yelena Shulyak states that it is crucial to expand the program's reach for Ukrainian internally displaced persons whose damaged or destroyed homes remain in temporarily occupied territories. According to her, the demand for this is very high, and the mechanism has already been developed. The "Servant of the People" party, she adds, will strive for the swift expansion of the program.

The next step, emphasized by the political force, should be to simplify the conditions of the "eOselya" affordable lending program for purchasing housing, primarily for forced migrants abroad and IDPs. This includes reducing the interest rate from 7% to 3% and the down payment from 20% to 15%.

Yelena Shulyak is also convinced that reforming housing policy will be extremely effective in addressing the housing issues for Ukrainians forced to leave the country. The current policy in Ukraine is still governed by the Housing Code of 1983. As a result, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians remain on waiting lists for apartments, with only a few hundred receiving housing each year.

The new housing policy, which the "Servant of the People" party is developing, will help tackle both the outdated housing problems accumulated over the years and those exacerbated by the war. The relevant legislative proposal envisions the creation of several mechanisms that will enable every Ukrainian to realize their right to housing. This can be achieved through a variety of tools.

"Firstly, we are talking about financial and credit mechanisms that will allow individuals to purchase or build their own homes. Secondly, it involves the establishment of a social housing fund," said Yelena Shulyak, adding that this housing will be owned by communities. It will be provided to families in need of social protection, such as those who have lost their homes due to the war or due to unsafe housing conditions, or to orphans and people with disabilities. The rent for such housing will be below market rates, at a level that a specific family can afford.

At the same time, Shulyak emphasized that a stable employment situation is also crucial for the return of Ukrainians. This is possible through the development of entrepreneurship, which in turn means the creation of new jobs. Recently, numerous legislative changes have been proposed by the government team to facilitate this. Among the latest is the adoption of a bill that allows certain types of businesses to start without obtaining licenses and permits until the end of martial law. To create new jobs, the government is implementing effective business support programs, primarily focusing on subsidized lending and grants for starting a business.