On 20 October 2026 the Latvian government approved an Economy Ministry information report on extra money for municipalities housing Ukrainian civilians. Up to €2 million would be shifted from support measures run by the Welfare Ministry under the state programme that finances measures in the law on support for Ukrainian civilians.
From that programme, the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development received no more than €14.319 million to cover municipal costs incurred in December 2025 and in 2026. The covered costs include housing, catering, social support, education and help applying for administrative services. By June 2026, €10.221 million of that sum had been used.
Catering was allocated €1.273 million. Municipalities had spent €98,462, leaving €1.175 million. Housing had been set at €1.068 million and cost €2.076 million, which is €1.008 million above the original plan. Social support was planned at €10.373 million, with €7.315 million spent by June and €3.058 million remaining. Education was planned at €1.605 million, with €730,581 spent and €874,241 left.
The Economy Ministry says that, based on actual spending and forecasts submitted by municipalities, the shortage for housing is expected to keep growing until November 2026. Its provisional estimate is a housing-funding gap of up to €2 million by the end of 2026.
A Cabinet order of 22 December 2025 names the Economy Ministry and the regional-development ministry as jointly responsible for carrying out housing and catering measures. A protocol decision from that Cabinet meeting says that if more money is needed, the responsible ministry, working with the Interior Ministry, must submit an information report. Extra funding should first be sought within money already available, without exceeding the €39.718 million set for the overall plan.
The Welfare Ministry has told the regional-development ministry that it holds programme funds for benefits administered by the State Social Insurance Agency. Looking at actual use and current forecasts through the end of 2026, it says some of the Ukrainian support measures it administers may need less than first planned. The report proposes reallocating up to €2 million from those Welfare Ministry measures to housing so the available money matches actual need.
Source: www.tvnet.lv
Latvian municipal catering · Ukrainian civilian meals · catering budget Latvia · housing funding reallocation · Economy Ministry report · Welfare Ministry funds