Head of State: Housing for servicemen should be clearly divided into service, which cannot be privatized, and personal
16.10.2018 20:56 | Press office of President
During a meeting on the state of implementation of the housing construction program for servicemen in Lviv region, President Petro Poroshenko stressed that it should be clearly stipulated that service housing cannot be privatized. At the same time it is necessary to develop a financial mechanism to provide the military who have served more than 25 years with personal housing.
The Head of State was amazed at the level of readiness of the dormitory for military personnel, where there are furniture, kitchen equipment, bathrooms. "It cannot be called a barrack. 23 thousand contractors will have an opportunity to live comfortably in these premises," the Head of State said, emphasizing that this is an unprecedentedly high figure and Ukraine has never built so much. The President is convinced that this program should be continued and in the next year's expenditures the necessary funds should be provided.
Petro Poroshenko also said that developed that the construction of special houses with studio apartments for sergeants had been started. According to the Head of State, "this will also be a powerful motivation for sergeants to serve, remain in the army and be defenders of the Homeland".
"I emphasize that all these apartments, dormitories, studios, or we can even call them hotel rooms, are not subject to privatization. They are the service housing built without consideration of expenses on the network, land, saving every kopeck. It will be a service housing and any military who comes to the brigade will be able to live in comfortable conditions," the President said.
The Head of State noted that the improvement of living conditions for officers is envisaged and there are proposals for solving the issues of social protection of servicemen in obtaining their own housing. "I consider it abnormal, when only 5-10% of those who have the right to housing receive housing. 90% resign without receiving anything," he said.
The President urged the Minister of Defense to work jointly with the military, parliamentarians and volunteers and present proposals for a clear division between service and personal housing.
The President added: "However, we must protect the military. If an officer has served for 25 years in the army, the amount of financial compensation should be sufficient for a person to be able to provide himself with housing where he wants, taking into account possible mortgage lending". At the same time, the Head of State noted that prices for housing in Ukraine differ significantly, so it is necessary to work out the appropriate financial mechanism. "We give each person the right to count on the resolution of his housing issue," the Head of State emphasized.
The President separately noted the soundness of the decision to transfer units of the special transport service that fulfill their work in a qualitative way under difficult conditions to the Ministry of Defense. The Head of State also emphasized the need to ensure steps to improve their social protection.