International seminar on the housing situation of war refugees from Ukraine

The seminar focused on the challenges faced by approximately 1 million war refugees from Ukraine currently residing in Poland, with a majority concentrated in major metropolitan areas where the availability of housing in the open market has become increasingly challenging. The existing housing assistance measures have mainly relied on the goodwill of individual residents providing temporary housing, financial support for landlords, and temporary forms of accommodation.

The seminar aimed to examine the existing regulations related to refugee assistance and their impact on securing housing needs and prospects for long-term stay. Participants, including representatives from public institutions, non-governmental organizations, and research centers from Poland, Czechia, and Hungary, engaged in discussions on medium and long-term solutions in housing policy for Poland and other countries in the region.

Key stakeholders participating in the seminar, such as Habitat for Humanity, proposed recommendations to address these challenges, including improving the regulation of the private rental sector, establishing an early intervention system to stabilize the housing situation for tenants at risk of losing their housing, introducing a housing allowance scheme, and promoting the use of intermediary organizations such as social rental agencies.

Overall, the seminar provided a platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration among various stakeholders, fostering discussions on housing policies and solutions for refugees in the region. The event aimed to contribute to the development of effective strategies that ensure comprehensive support for individuals in vulnerable situations within the Polish migration management system.