From legal consultations for displaced persons to strategic sessions for IDP Councils — we continue to share stories about how our regional teams work and how this improves the lives of communities and individuals. This time, we have prepared eleven case studies from August for you.
Legal Support for IDPs
Chernihivska Oblast: Helped Recover Money for Unfinished Repairs of Damaged Housing
Nelia’s home was damaged as a result of hostilities. She hired a contractor to manufacture and install window frames and paid the full amount of UAH 39,000 for the services. However, the contractor failed to complete the work within the specified timeframe. Our lawyer analyzed the situation, explained Nelia’s rights under the Law of Ukraine “On Protection of Consumer Rights,” and showed her how to prepare a claim. As a result, the contractor refunded the entire sum, and the woman was able to proceed with restoring her home.
Volynska Oblast: Explained How an IDP Working in a Hospital Can Obtain Temporary Housing in Kovel
A displaced person living in Kovel and working in a hospital inquired about the possibility of obtaining temporary housing for IDPs. Our lawyer consulted the man on the procedure for submitting an application and documents, and the conditions for receiving housing. Additionally, she informed him that in Kovel, medical workers receive extra points for housing, which increases their chances (amendments to the local Procedure were introduced by the Kovel City Council).
Rivnenska Oblast: Explained How to Submit a Claim to the Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine
Iryna, a displaced person from Luhanska Oblast, wanted to submit a claim to the Register and turned to us for a consultation. We explained the procedure for submitting the claim, gathering evidence, and provided a list of necessary documents. Result: Iryna prepared the claim and submitted it to the Register.
Mykolaivska Oblast: Helped Submit Documents to Obtain a Certificate for New Housing
A man from Khersonska Oblast, who lost his home due to the war, contacted us. He now lives in Mykolaiv with his wife and daughter, both of whom have disabilities. The man wanted to obtain a certificate to purchase a new home, but the ownership of the destroyed house was not entered into the State Register of Real Rights to Immovable Property. This was necessary in order to process the documents. Our lawyer provided a legal consultation, explaining where to go and what documents were needed. The man registered his property rights in the Register and subsequently submitted the documents to receive a certificate for new housing.
These stories are an example of how legal support helps people take an important step toward recovery and providing for their families.
In total, in 2025 (January – August), we provided 11,168 consultations for people affected by the war.
Do You Need a Legal Consultation?
We provide free consultations to IDPs, people who have returned to their places of permanent residence in Ukraine after forced displacement within the country or abroad due to hostilities, and other war-affected individuals on issues concerning the observance and implementation of their rights and freedoms. We also provide free online consultations to Ukrainian refugees (people who have been under temporary protection abroad since February 24, 2022).
To get a consultation, fill out this short form and wait for feedback from our legal team within one business day.
Support for Social Protection Institutions
Vinnytska Oblast: Held the “Social Sphere in Wartime Conditions” Forum for Central Regions
During the event, we focused together on the following important issues: the challenges the social sphere has faced since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the experience of implementing social services, supporting people during the war, and how to make the social services system more resilient and effective.
The Vasylkivska community shared its successful experience of using a social passport to participate in grant programs. Specifically, the Vasylkiv Municipal Territorial Center for Social Services received laptops and a computer from donors; the residential care department received a washing machine and a dryer; the Resilience Center received funds to equip its premises; and the Center for Complex Rehabilitation for Children with Disabilities received 2.4 million hryvnias to provide daytime care services. Thus, the assistance from the CF SSS in 2024 in updating and designing the social passport in Ukrainian and English versions became a fundamental basis for the further successful development of the Vasylkivska community.
Read more about the forum here.
Kirovohradska Oblast: Conducted a Webinar on “Unique Features of Communication with Vulnerable Populations”
Employees of social protection institutions in Kropyvnytskyi and Oleksandriyskyi raions learned about effective communication and the particulars of working with different categories of vulnerable groups, exchanged experiences, and developed individual approaches to complex cases. According to test results, the participants improved their awareness of communication with vulnerable populations by an average of 27%.
In total, in 2025 (January – August), we held 98 educational events for employees of social protection institutions and 4 forums on “The Social Sphere in Wartime Conditions: Regional Experience, Challenges, and Prospects” for 11 oblasts.
Support for IDP Councils
Zakarpatska Oblast: Supported the Creation of an IDP Council in the Berehivska Community
A significant percentage of the residents of the Berehivska community are Hungarians. Our team worked with the community for two years. In particular, we advocated for the creation of an IDP Council. Thanks to meetings with the community leadership involving the CF SSS, the regional UNHCR office, and joint work with the Berehove District IDP Council and CF NEEKA, the IDP Council at the Berehove City Council was finally established in August of this year.
Zaporizka Oblast: Helped the IDP Council under the Dolyna Village Council Improve Local Policy
Together with the IDP Council under the Dolyna Village Council, we conducted a successful advocacy campaign. Result: the adoption of the Procedure for the Creation of a Housing Stock for the Temporary Accommodation of IDPs, and for the Registration and Provision of Such Housing for Temporary Accommodation of IDPs within the Dolynska Village Territorial Community.
Held a Strategic Session for the IDP Council at the Novooleksandrivka Village Council
The work resulted in the development of strategic and operational plans for the council’s activities for two years. Natalia Denysenko, head of the IDP Council under the Novooleksandrivka Village Council, shares more about this experience:
“In March 2025, I gathered an initiative group to develop a strategic plan for the Council’s work for 2026–2027. But doing it on our own proved difficult — we lacked knowledge and experience. It constantly felt like we were overlooking something, planning things that were beyond our capabilities. The plan was chaotic, and on some points, the Council members couldn’t reach an agreement. So I turned for help to Anhelina Ovcharova, the regional coordinator of the CF SSS in Zaporizka Oblast, who is a member of our Council and has repeatedly consulted and helped us develop documents. Based on my request, the foundation’s team organized an off-site strategic session for our Council. Nine other Council members worked with me on the strategic plan.
I liked the event’s agenda. All stages of the work were logical and consistent, including both new information and necessary explanations. I was pleased that working on important documents could be so interesting. The program included physical activities, a SWOT analysis, MeWeUs techniques, and individual, pair, and group work. The session was intense and fruitful. We were all tired, but the result was worth it: all the walls of the workspace were covered with our work, and we had developed a mission, vision, principles, and an operational plan.
Our deepest gratitude to the organizers, who did a huge amount of preparation and held an event where we could fully concentrate on the plan. After all, working in the IDP Council is an additional workload, and it’s hard to find time for it between our main jobs and personal affairs. We are sincerely grateful from the bottom of our hearts!”.
Chernivetska Oblast: Held a Strategic Session for the IDP Council at the Berehomet Settlement Council
The Coordination Council on IDP issues in the Berehomet settlement was created three years ago, but it only began to develop actively after collaborating with the CF SSS. In August, we held a two-day strategic session for them. The result is a developed strategic and operational plan for the IDP Council’s activities for two years: from developing social entrepreneurship and creating jobs to adaptation and cultural integration programs. In addition, the joint work broke down barriers between local residents and IDPs — they became one team, united around a common goal.
Donetska Oblast: Held a Strategic Session for the IDP Council at the Dobropillia City Military Administration
This was another strategic session we want to highlight. The Dobropillia IDP Council operates in a frontline zone. Despite constant shelling, the Council members were able to join the strategic session and develop the main goals, objectives, and activities for planning effective work.
“We understand how difficult it is to work when your home is being destroyed and the number of internally displaced people is growing every day. But it is in such conditions that it is crucial to seek solutions, unite, and plan support measures for people who have lost their homes, jobs, and usual way of life.
This meeting was not just about strategies — it was about resilience, responsibility, and humanity. About the strength of a community that is capable of acting for others even in the most difficult moments,” shared Olha Borodina, the project’s regional coordinator in Donetska Oblast.
In total, in 2025 (January – August), we held 21 strategic sessions for IDP Councils.
Did you receive support from our team? Share your experience in the comments!
We help improve the work of the social protection system in target communities through the Support to the Capacity of Government Institutions and Local Communities to Strengthen Social Protection Systems in Ukraine project, implemented with the support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine.