Refugees Losing Housing Benefits in Poland. What Types of Accommodation Are Ukrainians Living in and Who Pays for What

The Polish government has announced that in November it will introduce an amendment to the special law on assistance to Ukrainian citizens, which is set to remove benefits for Ukrainians living in collective accommodation facilities funded by the state. From January of next year, full payment for stays in boarding houses, sanatoriums, dormitories, and various types of centres is also planned. This applies to all working-age Ukrainians who fail to find employment within 3 months and do not rent their own apartment. The government believes this initiative will motivate refugees to start working in Poland as quickly as possible and cover their own housing costs.

The analytical centre of the international recruitment agency Gremi Personal examined what types of accommodation Ukrainians are living in and at whose expense. The survey was conducted during the first half of November using an online questionnaire, with 1,700 Ukrainians from various regions of Poland taking part.

The results show that 52% of Ukrainians live in apartments, and 18% in dormitories or hostels. Private houses are home to 10% of respondents, and the same share has been taken in by Polish families. Currently, 6% are staying in boarding houses or holiday centres, while only 4% are in hotels.

At the same time, analysts asked respondents who covers their housing costs.

58% of those surveyed rent accommodation at their own expense, while 22% have housing provided by their employers. 10% of respondents say they have been taken in by Polish families in their homes, for which the government pays a compensation of 40 zlotys (320 hryvnias) per person per day under the hosting programme. 5% live at the state's expense and 5% with the support of charitable organisations.

"Despite the fact that Poland has created the largest number of state housing programmes for refugees among all European countries, we can see that the vast majority of Ukrainians are resolving their housing needs independently. However, the most advantageous option is employer-provided accommodation. Polish employers are competing with each other for Ukrainian workers, so they strive to create the most comfortable conditions for their employees. Even if it is a hostel or a dormitory, in most cases such accommodation is of adequate quality," says Anna Dżobolda, Head of Recruitment at the international recruitment agency Gremi Personal.

The company notes that despite the high cost of renting apartments, there are many options for comfortable accommodation in Poland. One popular practice is for Polish families to host Ukrainians in their homes, in return receiving government compensation of 40 zlotys (320 hryvnias) per person per day for each Ukrainian. Entire families sometimes stay this way, which can be mutually beneficial for both parties. Ukrainians also frequently share large apartments among several families, splitting costs at moderate rates. However, as long as Polish employers are willing to provide comfortable accommodation for their workers, recruitment specialists recommend taking advantage of this temporary option — at least for those who have decided to spend the winter in Poland.

At the same time, 76% of respondents say they are satisfied with their current living conditions, while 24% are planning to change their accommodation in the near future.