Legislative drafting and social responsibility in the housing provision for military personnel

This article presents a comprehensive analysis of specific social guarantees for military personnel, particularly in the context of access to housing. Special attention is paid to the mechanisms for the practical implementation of these guarantees, examined through the lens of legislative drafting principles and in the broader framework of Ukraine’s ongoing European integration. In addition to national legislation, the study also analysed EU and Council of Europe acts and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights. It is argued that, amid full-scale war and socio-economic instability, guarantees for military personnel must acquire a priority status – not only as declarative norms but also through clearly defined, resource-backed, and realistically implementable mechanisms. The study highlights the importance of incorporating public opinion and expectations in the development of legal acts, especially in socially sensitive areas. The article identifies key problems in the legislative regulation of housing guarantees for military personnel and the obstacles to their implementation, which are largely rooted in the failure to observe fundamental law-making principles - legal certainty, non-discrimination, proportionality, and social justice. Several practical solutions are proposed, including: granting mobilized military personnel the right to participate in the preferential mortgage lending program «YeOselya» on equal terms with contracted servicemen; expanding the use of public-private partnerships (PPP) in the housing sector; and supporting the development of affordable housing with the option of early lease and subsequent purchase. Particular emphasis is placed on the need to create a social housing fund for representatives of socially significant professions and vulnerable groups. The role of socially responsible business in implementing housing programs under limited public funding is also underscored. The conclusions formulated aim to enhance the effectiveness of public policy in the area of social protection for military personnel and to harmonize national legislation with European standards.