WOON – First Ukrainian Affordable Housing Corporation

Problem to resolve

Capitalism as we know it in the West has never had a chance to develop and establish itself in Eastern European countries, while social problems since the collapse of the Soviet Union have never been resolved and are getting bigger each and every consecutive year.

Today in Ukraine there are more than 14 million families that are in need of housing which they can afford, of which more than 2.5 million are in extremely difficult material conditions. Most spend more than 50% of their income on rent and this disparity continues to grow. According to the official data, 1.3 million Ukrainians are on the waiting list for a yet to be offered state housing.

Those people who cannot solve this issue choose to emigrate from the country. This leads to a considerable loss of the country’s population. As of 2010 more than 5 million Ukrainians, which is more then 12% of the total inhabitants, have left the country. The impossibility to resolve the housing issue is one of the main reasons which are being reported for people to abandon their motherland. This trend will not change in the event, among others, a solution is not found for an affordable and livable space for the most active part of the population of the country.

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Solution

This project presents the possibility of the successful creation of a pioneering affordable housing corporation – WOON, based on the successful Dutch housing corporation model which has been in existence since 1851 and was perfected in the course of the past 170 years. The absolute focus of this social entrepreneurial venture is to start sustainably tackling and resolving the affordable housing problem which Ukraine is confronted with.

The project would like to address this challenge by making it possible for young Ukrainian families to rent nice, sustainable and highly affordable apartments for a long period of time.

The project will offer the “My house is my Castle” model to the young Ukrainian families which from cultural and mentality perspective look for a safe, cozy and warm place to start a life and bring up their children.

The project will furthermore offer the possibility of participating with the connected community of young professional Ukrainian families (online/social and offline solutions and propositions).

In order to achieve these goals WOON envisages to create a housing corporation in the city of Lviv (as a pilot project) which will be engaged in purchasing or building, managing and renting out affordable housing. The activities of the housing corporation will be carried out on a non-profit basis. The corporation will not be active in the private market sector. All profits will be reinvested in the realization of new affordable housing projects.

Dutch historical example

It is interesting to briefly outline some historical facts picturing the inception of Dutch housing corporation’s sector.

The oldest housing corporation in the Netherlands is the Association for the Workers Class in Amsterdam (VAK), which was founded in 1852. In 1851 some Amsterdam notables called for a private construction company to be set up, which should do something about the prevailing housing shortage and poor housing for the Dutch working-class families. The call was followed up by 20 well-fortuned citizens. On February 21, 1852 the first housing association in the Netherlands was subsequently founded. Each member contributed 2000 guilders, on which they would receive a maximum of 3% interest.

The initiative in Amsterdam was soon followed elsewhere in the country, such as in Arnhem, where the Association to provide suitable housing for the working class was established in 1853. It has built a complex of 134 houses.

Some housing corporations, including the Constructions Company for the Acquisition of Own Homes in Amsterdam, have set themselves the goal of transferring ownership of the built homes to the residents after 20 years.

Today the Netherlands counts around 450 housing corporations which are being regulated by a solid legal framework, contribute to the society from other perspectives then providing affordable housing and run by thousands of professionals with a social and sustainable worldview.

Team

WOON founding and advisors team comprises of international, Dutch and Ukrainian professionals with a profound educational background and numerous years of professional experience in the fields of real estate project development, architecture and design, construction engineering, corporate finance, accounting, corporate and real estate law and taxation.

It has both Western European social entrepreneurial best practices experience as well as the understanding of Ukrainian and in particular Lviv local market knowledge and mentality.

First Steps

In the first stage of the project startup funding is required in order to incorporate the structure hire key personnel, develop the required infrastructure, purchase and rent out the first 100 affordable housing apartments. The team is now preoccupied to enthuse impact investors around the world to make the project possible.

We will be updating you on every step the project makes.

What young families in Ukraine say

Natalya Savina

“This is a great opportunity for my family to live in good housing and not worry about looking for a new one soon. We are looking forward to your proposals. Thank you!”

Oles Schedrin

“We have been looking for a good apartment in Lviv for a long time, with a high-quality renovation for a long period, perhaps for several years or more.”

Andriy Myrniy

“We usually look for housing through acquaintances, and an offer like yours is a very good opportunity for me. My family is thrilled!
Thank you!”

Solving the housing problem is our priority

There are more than 14 million families in Ukraine are in need of housing which they can afford, of which more than 2.5 million are in extremely difficult material conditions.

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In what city do you offer rentals?

At the moment we are working in Lviv. It is the largest city in Western Ukraine with a population of over 700,000 people, close to the border with Poland, Hungary.

What houses do you offer for rent?

All apartments are in new buildings only. These are new houses, with new modern renovation, which have not been rented out before. Please leave an application so we can add you to the waiting list and let you know about available housing.

Does the rental include furniture and necessary appliances for the home?

We offer options, it can be a home both with the necessary furniture and appliances or empty when you can furnish the home yourself. Please leave an application so we can add you to the waiting list and let you know about available housing.

How many rooms in apartments do you offer?

We offer options from one-room and two-room apartments, three-room apartments. These can be studio apartments (1 Room), apartments with a bedroom and living room (2 Rooms) or apartments with a two bedroom and one living room (3 Rooms). Please leave an application so we can add you to the waiting list and let you know about available housing.

Contacts

The project initiation is being made possible by:

KAPITA FOUNDATION | ZANDHEUVEL 52 B | 4901 HW OOSTERHOUT | THE NETHERLANDS

WWW.KAPITA.EU | CONTACT@KAPITA.EU | TEL.: + 31 162 796 51 9

KAPITA FOUNDATION
ZANDHEUVEL 52 B | 4901 HW OOSTERHOUT
THE NETHERLANDS