In Ukraine, the number of homeless people may exceed 120,000
The actual number of homeless people in Ukraine may range from 57,000 to 121,000, which is several times higher than the official figures from the State Statistics Service. This is evidenced by the results of a study conducted by the “Depol Ukraine” Charitable Foundation in collaboration with the “Rating” sociological group and the Institute of Demography, which were presented during the “Right to a Dignified Life” conference in Kyiv.
According to the Ministry of Social Policy, as of January 1, 2026, there were officially 12,451 homeless people in Ukraine.
At the same time, the study’s authors note that this figure represents only one-fifth to one-tenth of the actual number of people without housing.
The discrepancy between official statistics and the study’s findings is particularly striking in major cities. For example, in Kyiv, the number of homeless people was found to be six times higher than officially recorded; in Odesa, it was twice as high; and in Kharkiv, it was 25 times higher.
Researchers emphasize that the actual number of homeless people may be even higher, as some people do not seek help from specialized institutions and thus remain unaccounted for in official records. Furthermore, the full-scale war has significantly exacerbated the problem. According to experts’ estimates, the total number of homeless people in Ukraine may now exceed one million.
Among the main causes of homelessness, experts cite orphanhood—when graduates of residential care facilities find themselves unprepared for independent living—incarceration, after which people often lose their housing, as well as family conflicts, particularly following divorces, inheritance disputes, or conflicts between parents and adult children.
Another factor is job loss, which makes it impossible to pay rent. Alcohol or drug addiction can also lead to homelessness; these addictions often arise from difficult life circumstances and only exacerbate social problems.
The researchers paid particular attention to new categories of homeless people that emerged after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. These include internally displaced persons who cannot afford to rent housing or face language barriers, as well as veterans who struggle with reintegration after returning from the front lines.
Experts also note that although Ukrainian legislation regarding assistance to the homeless is generally well-established, in practice it has significant shortcomings. Social programs often fail to take into account the specific needs of this population group, rendering them ineffective.
One of the most serious problems remains the lack of identification documents, which prevents access to medical care, employment, social benefits, pensions, and other government services. The situation is further complicated by societal stigmatization of homeless people.
The study was conducted from April 1 to 30, 2026, and the expert survey took place on April 14–15.
This is evidenced by the results of a study conducted by the “Depol Ukraine” Charitable Foundation in collaboration with the “Rating” sociological group and the Institute of Demography, and presented on Thursday as part of the conference on overcoming the homelessness crisis in Ukraine, “The Right to a Dignified Life,” in Kyiv on Thursday.
As a reminder, 130 cases of bullying were recorded in Ukraine during the first four months of 2025.
