KYIV, Dec 10 – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Commission are providing a EUR 100 million credit line to support the development of a scalable platform for affordable energy-efficient rental housing in Ukraine by philanthropist Dell Loy Hansen, the bank's press service reported.

Vlaho Kojaković, EBRD Director for Real Estate, said: "This project marks a significant milestone for the implementation of our Real Estate Sector Strategy in Ukraine. By supporting scalable, private-sector-led affordable housing, we are demonstrating how the sector can contribute meaningfully to Ukraine’s reconstruction and long-term resilience."

The financing will help deliver safe and sustainable housing for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other vulnerable groups, addressing one of the country’s most pressing social needs.

The programme is led by developer and philanthropist Dell Loy Hansen, and supported by Hansen Ukrainian Mission (HUM), a non-profit organisation dedicated to housing solutions for displaced families he founded. Through HUM’s “Ladder to Prosperity” initiative, the project combines affordable rental and rent-to-own models to promote long-term housing security and economic integration.

EBRD financing will help Dell Loy Hansen and HUM demonstrate a scalable, private-sector-led approach to Ukraine’s housing recovery. Subsequent phases are expected to deliver 1,800 affordable homes across the Kyiv region by 2029.

The project will benefit from partial first-loss risk cover under the European Union’s Ukraine Investment Framework Municipal Infrastructure and Industrial Resilience Programme (UIF MIIR), strengthening the Bank’s capacity to support affordable housing solutions in Ukraine.

It will also benefit from donor-funded technical cooperation to strengthen its social and environmental impact.

It is noted that the loan will also contribute to housing sector reform in Ukraine. Hansen’s team has developed an innovative model for providing affordable housing in Ukraine, where charitable grants are combined with EBRD loans backed by an EU guarantee.

As reported, the EBRD has significantly increased its investments in Ukraine since Russia began a full-scale war in 2022, allocating more than EUR 8.5 billion to support energy security, vital infrastructure, food security, trade and the private sector. (om/ez)