30 internally displaced persons (IDPs) got keys to social housing facilities in the town of Bohodukhiv (Kharkiv region) today. This is already the fifth house with social housing for IPDs, which has been reconstructed by Ukrainian Social Investment Fund (USIF) with the use of grant funds from the German Government, provided through the German State Development Bank – KfW in the framework of ongoing USIF V Project (hereinafter – the Project).

The keys to the renovated and furnished apartments were solemnly presented to the new residents by the Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine Andriy Reva and the Head of Kharkiv Regional State Administration Yuliya Svitlychna.

In the hostel building, USIF made major repairs: replacement and insulation of the roof, installation of metal-plastic windows, door replacement, facade insulation, repair of the heating system, arrangement of the ventilation and cleaning system and internal trim. The total budget of renovation works was UAH 5,5 million.

"Another 10 families who have left the occupied territory received today a free adequate and comfortable housing. People can live here as much as they need. There will be no rent or additional payments. The new residents will pay only for utilities, - says Andriy Laktionov, Executive Director of the Ukrainian Social Investment Fund. - By the end of 2018, we plan to put into operation nine more similar objects in the Zaporizhzhya, Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv regions", - he adds.

In parallel with renovation of social housing for IPDs USIF, within the framework of the Project, invests in schools and kindergartens. Thus, windows and a roof were replaced in the Bohodukhiv gymnasium #1. In autumn renovation of the gym will be launched.

By now Bohodukhiv has already received more than UAH 9 million of investments and will receive almost UAH 4 million more. Kharkiv region as a whole will receive more than UAH 80 million of irrevocable grant investments in its social infrastructure.

By the end of 2018, 4 more housing facilities for IDPs in Lozova, Dergachi, Zolochiv and Krasnograd will have been opened in Kharkiv region. In spring of 2019 a large social dormitory will have been renovated in Izyum.

At present 97 IDPs have already been provided with free social housing under the Project. Within a few months another 650 internally displaced persons from Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions will have got free housing.

In the framework of the Project, USIF has also implemented "Decent Work" program enabling internally displaced persons and residents of Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions to obtain additional job search and doing business skills.

In April 2018, Ukrainian Social Investment Fund, Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine and the German State Development Bank - KFW signed an agreement according to which German Government would provide another grant in the amount of EUR 9 million for IDPs social housing. USIF intends to launch the active phase of this new project in October this year.