Abandoned buildings in Ukraine being converted into housing for IDPs

Abandoned buildings in Ukraine are being converted into housing for internally displaced persons (IDPs) as part of social programs, Anastasiya Ponomaryova, head of the Kalush Social Housing Project, said during a panel discussion at WUF13 in Baku, Report informs.

According to her, a municipal building in the city of Kalush, which had been vacant for over 15 years, was reconstructed. As a result, approximately 40 residential units were created there for over 150 internally displaced persons (IDPs), she said.

Ponomareva noted that when developing the project, the team consulted with future residents to make the space more comfortable and responsive to their needs.

"People told us that after being forced to relocate and living in temporary shelters, they don't want to share anything with their neighbors except their walls," she said.

She emphasized that the project is gradually moving away from the dormitory format in favor of compact, individual apartments, while maintaining communal spaces for residents to integrate and interact.