For many people displaced by conflict in Ukraine, the hardest part is not fleeing. It is what comes after.

When Olena had to flee her home due to fighting in Donetska oblast in March 2022, she was hoping to find safety.  But what she found was a series of temporary stops: friends’ homes, crowded dormitories, financial challenges, and eventually a collective centre in Dnipropetrovska oblast. The building had once been used by students but had not been renovated in decades. It was never meant to be a home.

The windows were broken and covered in blankets to block the cold. Floors and ceilings were cracked. Appliances were shared, often broken, and hygiene conditions were poor.

“Everything was shared there. The shower, kitchen, laundry room. You didn't have your own space,”

Olena was living with strangers in a shared room, queuing for toilets, unable to concentrate on work, and constantly exposed to noise. Meanwhile, her father was seriously ill. Nearly all her income went to his care. Renting a private home felt like an impossible dream.

She did what she could to survive emotionally – yoga, self-help books, antidepressants. But none of it was enough.

A dignified solution through personal support

That is when she met Medair’s case management team, who were presenting the Alternative Housing Solutions programme at her centre. The project, launched in March 2025 and funded by Swiss Solidarity, is designed for displaced people who want to move out of collective centres but face overwhelming barriers – financial, psychological, or practical.

From the very first consultation, Medair supported Olena personally. The team helped identify her needs – proximity to pharmacies, access to transport, a quiet and private space. Despite a limited budget and a competitive rental market, we found her a small one-bedroom flat in the city centre.

The impact was immediate and transformative.

For the first time in years, she could cook in her own kitchen. With a working oven, to return to her love of baking. Her bathroom was clean, private, and stocked with her own hygiene items. She had a washing machine, a quiet workspace for her job, and a space to practise yoga without interruption.

“Your own home is a place where you can relax. Now I can breathe easily and just be myself.”

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From survival to purpose

Moving into her own home improved her mental health, but it also unlocked something deeper: a sense of direction. Today, Olena is studying to become a psychologist so she can help other displaced people like her.

“I realised that I needed to build my life. And now I have a foundation for that – my own home, stability and self-confidence.”

Why this matters

More than three years into the conflict, thousands of people across Ukraine still live in overcrowded, under-resourced collective centres. These conditions take a heavy toll on physical and emotional wellbeing.

Medair’s Alternative Housing Solutions offer a different path. One that respects human dignity and promotes long-term recovery. Through personalised case management, we help people move forward: out of dependency, out of trauma, and into safe, stable homes.

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This content was produced with resources gathered by Medair field and headquarters staff. The views expressed herein are those solely of Medair and should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of any other organisation.  

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