In 2024, the Odesa region received over 83 million hryvnias from the state budget to provide housing for orphans and children deprived of parental care. However, instead of providing real assistance to families, most of these funds remained unused.
According to official data, more than 53 million hryvnias were never distributed within the Odessa urban territorial community, and more than 13 million were "stuck" in the Velikodolynska, Kiliya, and Fontanska communities.
As a result, at the end of 2024, unused funds were forced to be returned to the state budget, and dozens of children who were supposed to receive housing were left with nothing. This caused a wave of indignation among both public activists and professionals.
However, the situation in 2025 looks even more alarming. Despite last year's failure, the Odessa region again received a record amount - over 114 million hryvnias. As of May, almost 100 million has already been transferred, but only about 3 million have actually been used, which is less than 3% of the allocated funds.
"These are not just numbers - these are the broken hopes of dozens of children who need not loud promises, but a real roof over their heads," a source in social services comments on the situation.
Experts emphasize that the problem is systemic. The main reasons are the delay in procedures, the lack of high-quality documentation, and in some cases, the complete irresponsibility of local authorities. Against this background, the state is actually losing millions that could provide orphans with the most necessary thing - housing.
Civil society organizations have already appealed to the relevant ministries to intervene immediately. They are calling for the creation of a public action plan, the introduction of strict control over the implementation of programs, and the publication of reports on each territorial community.
"This is not just another delay. This is a violation of the rights of the most vulnerable Ukrainians," human rights activists emphasize.
The situation requires not just another promise, but concrete solutions. Otherwise, millions of hryvnias will return to the budget, and the children will be left without the home they have long deserved.
