Humanitarian housing

State humanitarian housing is provided as primary assistance to people fleeing the war in Ukraine who have not yet found housing in the Czech Republic. This is a temporary housing assigned by KACPU, it is free of charge and for a limited period of 90 days.

Starting September 1, 2024, there is no longer a distinction between non-vulnerable and vulnerable persons regarding humanitarian accommodation. Every newcomer, including vulnerable persons, will have to find another type of accommodation after 90 days.

‏‏‏‎ For more information on helping vulnerable persons find paid housing after September 1st, please consult MoI’s website.

The start of the 90-day period shall commence on the day following the date of granting the first temporary protection.

For example:

‏‏‎ I received my first temporary protection on 2.09.2024.

‏‏‎ 90 days of free public humanitarian housing are calculated from the following day, from 03.09.2024. The eligibility for free accommodation expires on 01.12.2024.

Applying for such housing is possible only at the KACPU in Havířov.

After you are provided with state humanitarian housing, you will be given a written confirmation “Information on the provision of housing”. This document will include the residential address, contact details and basic information about the rights and obligations associated with this form of assistance.

‏‏‎ After 90 days, receiving free humanitarian housing is no longer possible. 

Allocated housing is final. Since the number of vacant places is limited, it is impossible to choose which kind of accommodation you want to be placed in.

State humanitarian housing is always provided through the KACPU. If you find and arrange housing yourself, it will not be considered public humanitarian housing.

It is usually not possible to change the accommodation provided to you. It is possible to change such accommodation only for valid reasons that significantly complicate or make it impossible to stay in this accommodation regardless of your will. For example, changing jobs or attending an educational institution elsewhere is not considered a valid reason.

 ‏‏‎ What counts as a good reason?

 ‏‏‎ Housing does not meet the medical needs of the person or the needs for the provision of social services. These are exceptional situations, for example when the resident’s health condition requires barrier-free access to a wheelchair or where a person needs special care services (e.g. elderly people or people with disabilities). In this case, contact the nearest Integration centre in the place of residence. You can find contacts on the Ministry of Interior’s website. 

If the accommodation facility stops providing state humanitarian housing, you will be contacted in a timely manner by the person providing you with housing. If you wish to continue using free public humanitarian housing, KACPU will provide you with new housing. If you are provided with new public humanitarian housing, you do not need to notify the Department of Asylum and Migration Policy (OAMP) of the change of address.

The right to state humanitarian housing is automatically lost:

‎‏‏‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‎‎‏‏‎ if a person refuses housing (except for certain valid exceptional reasons that the KACPU recognizes, e.g., a building that is inaccessible to a person in a wheelchair),

‎‏‏‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‎‎‏‏‎‎‏‏‎‎when 90 days after granting the first temporary protection are over,

‎‏‏‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‎if the person has stopped staying for more than 10 consecutive days and has not informed the provider in writing of the reason and duration of his/her absence from the accommodation,

‎‏‏‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‎if the person moves and their new housing is not provided through the KACPU (i.e., moves to housing that is not considered public humanitarian housing).

If you have moved, you must notify the Department of Asylum and Migration Policy (OAMP) of the change of address within 3 working days. If you do not notify about the change, it may affect your eligibility for humanitarian assistance.

‏‏‎ More information on notification of changes to the Department of Asylum and Migration Policy (OAMP) can be found on the Information Portal for Foreigners in the section “Persons with temporary protection” or in clear instructions.

Yes, you can agree with the accommodation provider on the basis of the contract of rent. If you remain residing at the same address (for example, in the same apartment that is no longer in the state registry of humanitarian housing), there is no need to report to the Department of Asylum and Migration Policy (OAMP), as your address remains the same.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (Ministerstvo práce a sociálních věcí – MPSV) or the Labour Office (Úřad práce) provides more detailed information on the possibilities of receiving humanitarian assistance, taking into account the estimated housing costs that can be received by persons who have been granted temporary protection.