Nearly 20 years ago, I joined Ukrainian colleagues in Kharkiv as we delivered hot meals to those experiencing homelessness. Parking up our minivan, we distributed borscht to those sleeping rough in the city, many of whom were children. With nowhere else to go, they slept on or below the streets, sheltering in the city’s underground sewer network.
Much has changed since then. I visited Ukraine earlier this month, and, thanks to the efforts of organisations like Depaul Ukraine, it is now rare to see children sleeping on the streets. Yet, homelessness is still a pressing issue. Research from Depaul Ukraine found that the number of people accessing homelessness assistance centres ranges between 57,000 and 121,000 – five to ten times higher than official figures suggest.
The full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in 2022, has had a drastic impact on homelessness rates in the country. Every day, our teams on the ground support those in the most difficult circumstances. Families who have fled their hometowns to escape conflict, leaving everything they know behind. Veterans returning from the frontline who end up on the streets when they have nowhere else to go. People who have seen their homes completely destroyed.
An estimated 3.7 million people have been displaced since 2022, and recent Depaul Ukraine research found that a staggering 46% of those experiencing homelessness lost their homes due to conflict or occupation. Meanwhile, a lack of housing options is contributing to long-term homelessness, as nearly two-thirds (63%) of those experiencing homelessness in Ukraine have been without housing for more than two years.
The reality is stark. Yet, despite this, there is hope in Ukraine as the country plans for post-war recovery.
To solve homelessness, evidence from around the world shows that housing led approaches help people to gain stability, confidence in the future and the opportunity to gradually return to a fulfilling life.
