The Situation in Ukraine
Since Russia launched their attack on Ukraine, more than 12.8 million people have been forced to leave their home to seek safe shelter.
Habitat for Humanity's Response
Habitat for Humanity National Offices in the neighbouring countries of Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia are responding to the Ukraine crisis. We are supporting refugees fleeing the conflict arriving at bordering countries through:
- The provision of essentials to those who have left everything behind.
- Providing vital equipment including heaters and mattresses to the transitory shelters immediately on the border.
- Working in partnership with local hotel groups to provide first week stay vouchers for families transiting through each country or looking for longer term accommodation 400 hotel rooms provided in Romania to date.
Solidarity through Accommodation and Shelter
Habitat for Humanity Poland, Romania and Hungary are launching Solidarity through Accommodation and Shelter projects – working with partners to provide highly subsidised accommodation in hotels, apartments and homes for Ukrainian families; most of whom are women and children whose fathers have stayed behind.
In Poland – we are working with Warsaw City Council. Our established social rental agency project is being upscaled to provide a crucial matching and safeguarding service to help Warsaw City council match the 4000 offers of help from local families with at least 4000 initial family placements. We are also working with hotels to provide a first couple of weeks accommodation to free up shelters and refugee spaces for continued waves.
In Romania – our colleagues are working to secure short term rental accommodation for an initial 500 families, as well as working with real estate agencies and private landlords to secure affordable rental accommodation for a further 1500 people.
In Hungary – our Solidarity Accommodation Service has been established, offering cheap, subsidised accommodation for refugees in shelters looking to stay for longer, and is preparing to manage 80-100 flats for families in the first 6 months.
Empty Spaces to Homes
Habitat for Humanity are exploring opportunities to scale up our work in Hungary, Poland and Romania to make a bigger dent in the huge housing deficit which already exists across mainland Europe. This could include scaling up our Empty Spaces to Homes approach where we partner with local authorities, faith groups and socially minded land and property owners to convert empty and vacant spaces into good quality accommodation for vulnerable communities facing homelessness in this case refugees. This could also include working to establish new construction led programming in the most affected host communities.
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Olga’s Story
When the war in Ukraine began, Olga and her daughters sheltered in the basement with their cats. After a while, they knew they needed to leave. On foot, they made their way to Hungary.
Since fleeing Ukraine, Olga and her family has received support from Habitat for Humanity Hungary where they are now living in a safe home with their pets.
Marina’s Story
When the war in Ukraine began, Marina was forced to make the impossible decision to leave her husband and her home behind to protect her two daughters from harm.
Since fleeing Ukraine, Marina has received support from Habitat for Humanity Poland where she is now living in a safe and secure apartment in Warsaw, Poland.
Ukraine Crisis Response Videos
Habitat for Humanity Great Britain Statement
The following statement was issued by Tum Kazunga, CEO at Habitat for Humanity Great Britain on the 24th February 2022.
“As we watch with dismay the distressing situation unfold across Ukraine, Habitat for Humanity Great Britain joins colleagues across the Habitat network in calling for an end to the deadly attacks on the people of Ukraine.
As an organisation who passionately believe that homes should be safe havens for all, seeing people forced to flee from their homes is a tragedy, and we extend our thoughts and support to the people of Ukraine.
Our colleagues on the ground in Poland, Hungary and Romania, working with partners from other NGOs in a united response, are currently making preparations in case a large number of people are forced from their communities into neighbouring countries.” – Tum Kazunga, CEO at Habitat for Humanity Great Britain
Take action
Help us to support those that have been forced to leave their homes by making a donation today.
For thousands of people across the Ukraine, support from people like you is a lifeline.
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