Odesa: The queue for housing for orphans is growing, and the city is offering to co-fund apartments.
The Odesa city council acknowledged that the municipal program for providing housing to orphaned children is not reducing the waiting list for apartments — it is actually growing. The department for children's affairs proposes co-financing the purchase of apartments: adult orphans will contribute their own savings, and the city will cover the remaining amount. Local administrations must submit reports on the program's implementation by October 15.
During a meeting of the permanent commission of the Odesa city council for education, sports, and interaction with public organizations, the reasons why the city's program for providing housing for orphaned children is not achieving results were discussed. According to Illya Zuzrahav, head of the department for children's affairs of the Odesa city council, the changes to the program were approved in August 2026 year. The program covers providing housing for orphaned children, children deprived of parental care, and individuals within those categories, as well as supporting family-based upbringing, and is designed for 2023–2029 years.
The adoption of the updated program was delayed, in part, due to questions about who exactly is eligible for housing – this could include individuals who already have children and are over 30 years old. According to Zhuravov, even two months after the program was adopted, it became clear that certain provisions were not working effectively.
One suggestion is co-financing the purchase of apartments: adult orphans could use their own savings, and the city would add the remaining amount. The commission noted that two adults who are employed no longer have the ability to save, and asked whether orphans without savings would receive assistance and whether those who have saved more would have an advantage. As an example, representatives of the service cited another city where, under a similar program, more than 30 apartments were purchased.
During the meeting, it was acknowledged that the waiting list for orphan children's apartments in Odesa is not decreasing, but rather continuing to grow. Specific figures regarding funding amounts, the number of apartments purchased, and the number of children who received housing were not mentioned in the discussed part of the report.
The executors of the program – the district administrations – are required to provide reports on its implementation by October 15; however, at the time of the meeting, the service had not yet received reports on individual measures. It was also suggested to appoint a specific employee to coordinate this work.
Zugrav also informed about changes in legislation regarding the powers of guardianship and care authorities. As a result, Одесса is preparing to transform the child protection system, including changing the structure of the department for family affairs and staff positions.