Internally displaced Ukrainians make 22% of the country’s homeless people – report
Source: Depaul Ukraine
A new study by the charitable organization Depaul Ukraine reveals that 22% of the country’s homeless population consists of internally displaced people. Among those surveyed, who either sleep on the streets or in shelters, nearly a quarter had been forced from their homes. The study showed Russia’s full-scale invasion becoming one the primary causes of homelessness, on par with family conflicts, evictions, breakups, and job loss.
Depaul Ukraine reports that basic needs like hot meals top the list of priorities for 81% of homeless individuals. Other essential services include hygiene facilities (65%), medical care (36%), legal assistance (33%), long-term housing (33%), and employment (31%).
The research paints a grim picture, with 49% of homeless people living on the streets for over five years and a staggering 95% enduring homelessness for more than a year.
Internally displaced people who have to use temporary housing services deal with major challenges, with 81% identifying the need for long-term housing as their most pressing issue. Nearly 38% require medical assistance, while one-third expressed a need for psychological support.
The report further exposes the harsh realities of life on the streets. A shocking 69% of homeless individuals have experienced violence, and among women, 50% have been victims of domestic violence.
Amendments to Ukraine’s enforcement proceedings legislation, initiated by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, have entered into force. Among other measures, the reform provides for the automated lifting of attachments on bank accounts immediately after debts in enforcement proceedings have been fully settled. The main practical benefit for citizens is the complete elimination of the need to contact an enforcement officer in person and wait for paper decisions once the debt has been paid.
The 157th Separate Mechanized Brigade has received another batch of supplies as part of Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front military initiative. This time, the military received seven quad bikes and four mobile shower and bath units.
In my previous column, I wrote about social innovations in Ukraine. Those innovations are part of civic resilience and the democratization of security, which Europe is paying close attention to right now. The EU is trying to work out how to spread responsibility for its own security across society as a whole, rather than leaving it to institutions alone. It is looking for concrete ways to bring ordinary people into the work of defense and resistance.
Petro Poroshenko’s lawyers have appealed to the High Anti-Corruption Court demanding that NABU be obligated to register proceedings regarding the fact of exerting influence on the court and to recognize Petro Poroshenko as a victim in the case of the Deputy Head of the Office of the President, Iryna Mudra, due to her pressure on Supreme Court judges who were considering a lawsuit to overturn sanctions.
Internationally recognized brands and financial institutions should direct capital to Ukraine now, not waiting for the hostilities to end. This was emphasized by Rinat Akhmetov, president of FC Shakhtar, during a working visit to UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, where he met with UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin.