Could a Housing First model solve Ukraine's homelessness crisis?

As Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine enters its third year, a crisis of homelessness is emerging across the country. New research from UK-based charity Depaul International shows a sharp rise in homelessness in Ukraine, with 22 per cent of those sleeping rough becoming homeless as a direct consequence of being displaced during the conflict.

‘My house in Vovchansk [Kharkiv region] burnt down [...] I have no money, no job. I do not know where I will live next,’ says Oleksandr*, a rough sleeper cited in the research.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, 3.5 million people in Ukraine have been forced to leave their homes; two million have had their homes destroyed or damaged. Many shelters have also been destroyed by Russian airstrikes, and strict rules on the remaining shelters often lead to single men, formerly incarcerated individuals or those with addiction problems being turned away. Women sleeping rough are also more likely to be survivors of domestic violence — 79 per cent of women accessing services have also experienced gender-based violence, according to Depaul.

‘There are very few organizations working with homeless people [in Ukraine] … our experience shows there are a lot of needs that are not addressed,’ says Anna Skoryk the interim CEO of Depaul Ukraine.