CO-HATY is an initiative founded in March 2022 in response to the acute housing crisis caused by the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Headquartered in Ivano-Frankivsk and involving partners from Kyiv and Kharkiv, CO-HATY emerged from a collaboration between METALAB, the Urban Curators, and local activists, including academics and architects. While often associated with activities near Kyiv, most of its completed projects have been concentrated in western Ukraine.
The organisation focuses on repurposing abandoned, often Soviet-era municipal buildings into interim housing for internally displaced people (IDPs). Since its launch, CO-HATY has renovated at least seven structures, including dormitories, hotels, and kindergartens, providing accommodation for about 1,500 displaced people. Each facility offers private rooms and communal spaces such as kitchens, laundries, and workspaces, emphasising a participatory model where future residents are engaged in the renovation and operation of their housing.
CO-HATY’s funding for these projects has surpassed $1.3 million, sourced from international partners and local authorities. Budgets for individual projects range widely, with recent renovations accommodating between 24 and 450 people per site. Beyond emergency shelter, CO-HATY supports social reintegration, organising communal activities and, in some cases, employment opportunities for residents. The organisation has garnered international recognition, including a Bronze medal from the World Habitat Awards, reflecting its grassroots approach to both immediate humanitarian needs and longer-term urban regeneration.