At the “Hansen Town” in Kyiv region, a conference took place with the participation of over 30 heads of Ukrainian communities, focused on further developing housing for internally displaced persons (IDPs) with the support of Charity Hansen Ukrainian Mission. Deputy Minister of Community and Territorial Development Kostyantyn Kovalchuk and the Head of the State Agency for Reconstruction Serhiy Sukhomlyn attended the event.
During the event, American businessman and philanthropist Dell Loy Hansen, founder of Charity Hansen Ukrainian Mission, presented a new project for community leaders – “Housing for All.” The project proposes building affordable social housing for IDPs in the form of districts similar to “Hansen Town” in 20 communities. Dell Loy Hansen had previously discussed the project with Vice Prime Minister for Reconstruction and Minister of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine Oleksii Kuleba.
“We are extremely grateful to Charity Hansen Ukrainian Mission and Dell Loy Hansen for their significant contribution to helping Ukrainians who have lost their homes. We can already see how these projects not only help people relocate but also adapt and continue living fulfilling lives. ‘Hansen Town’ began construction in the summer of 2023, and currently, around 420 families reside here. More homes will soon be added. This is a real result and serves as an example for us. I encourage communities to take a look at the ‘Housing for All’ project, as today we need this – practical results that will allow us to support IDPs together. The Ministry of Community and Territorial Development has prioritized housing restoration and compensation for 2025. We are ready to support initiatives like those of Charity Hansen Ukrainian Mission. We are confident that with the state's support for partners and businesses, we can provide quality housing to Ukrainians in need in the shortest time possible,” said Kostyantyn Kovalchuk.
The total number of apartments planned to be built under “Housing for All” is 10,000. This project aims to provide housing for 50,000 Ukrainians who lost their homes due to the conflict. The cost of the entire project is 1 billion dollars.
“We recently traveled with the Minister to the southern regions of our country and saw firsthand the devastating consequences of Russian missile strikes, particularly on residential infrastructure. The war continues, and unfortunately, we are not able to rebuild as quickly as we would like. However, with partners like Charity Hansen Ukrainian Mission, we can do more. This is an example of how, with the support of the state and local authorities, international partners can implement large housing projects. At the same time, IDPs often face challenges at new locations, such as finding work, enrolling children in school, and accessing medical services. Projects like ‘Hansen Town’ address these challenges. It provides not just comfortable living conditions but also helps build a community. We thank Dell Loy Hansen for his dedication and willingness to continue helping Ukrainians,” emphasized Serhiy Sukhomlyn.
With the support of other international partners, including the World Bank, construction in selected communities is expected to begin in the fall of this year. The “Housing for All” project is expected to be fully completed by the summer of 2027.
To recall, “Hansen Town” is a residential area exclusively for IDPs, where 1,700 people currently live, including 600 children. IDPs receive housing free of charge for up to 5 years. The complex has all the necessary infrastructure for comfortable living, including a community clubhouse, several playgrounds, barbecue pavilions, a swimming pool, an indoor sports complex, football fields, bomb shelters, and more.
Since 2023, Charity Hansen Ukrainian Mission has been implementing several similar housing projects for IDPs, including Senior Chudo Village, the first residential district in Ukraine entirely for elderly people, apartments in the village of Sofiivska Borshchahivka, and the reconstruction of destroyed housing in Kyiv region.
