Right to housing for orphanage pupils without official status

08.12.2025 10:05 • Question

I was raised in an orphanage because my parents were effectively absent, but officially the status of a child deprived of parental care was not formalized for me until I turned 18. Do I now have the right to receive housing or compensation, as provided for such children, even if the state did not issue the relevant documents at that time?

1 Answers

Lorina Fedan

Answer provided 08.12.2025 13:19

According to Ukrainian law, a child under guardianship loses the status of an orphan or a child deprived of parental care upon reaching adulthood. A new law on housing policy is being prepared in Ukraine, which guarantees, among other things, housing for orphans and children deprived of parental care after leaving orphanages or foster families. The law closes mechanisms of abuse, where apartments were received by those who did not actually need them, and ensures fair access to the state housing fund for the most vulnerable. The Committee is currently working on amendments to draft law No. 12377 "On the Basic Principles of Housing Policy". According to the document, orphans and children deprived of parental care, after completing their stay in orphanages or foster families, will be provided by the state with temporary or social housing within a month until they receive permanent accommodation.

The answer is informational and does not replace a full legal consultation. For a detailed analysis of your situation, contact a lawyer directly.