30/01/2026
Improving Living Conditions for People Staying in Temporary Accommodation
In cooperation with the United Nations Refugee Agency (hereinafter – UNHCR), CHARITY ORGANIZATION "CHARITABLE FOUNDATION "ANGELS OF SALVATION" (hereinafter referred to as the Charitable Foundation "Angels of Salvation") carried out repairs in temporary accommodation centers (hereinafter referred to as TACs) in three settlements of the Kharkiv region.
In 2025, the Charitable Foundation "Angels of Salvation" evacuated more than 11,000 people from settlements located near the front line. Due to the deterioration of the security situation throughout the year, the number of people forced to leave their homes increased, and as a result, the need for temporary housing grew.
Temporary accommodation centres have been set up to provide shelter for evacuees. One of them is located near Kharkiv, in the Dokuchaievske settlement, and has been accepting people since 2022. Currently, 201 people live there.
This is one of four temporary accommodation centres where we have carried out repairs to make the stay in the new place comfortable for those who have left their homes.
Temporary accommodation centres have been set up to provide shelter for evacuees. One of them is located near Kharkiv, in the Dokuchaievske settlement, and has been accepting people since 2022. Currently, 201 people live there.
This is one of four temporary accommodation centres where we have carried out repairs to make the stay in the new place comfortable for those who have left their homes.
In this TAC, the heating system was upgraded and more than 1,100 m² of the roof was repaired to keep the building protected during the winter. In addition, to improve living conditions, additional work was carried out on the 2nd and 3rd floors: 12 rooms were renovated and the corridor on the 2nd floor was refurbished.
The first floor was also renovated to meet the needs of people with reduced mobility. This includes 6 living rooms, a shower room and a dressing room. These rooms can accommodate people with disabilities, as well as those who help care for them. Our engineers improved a safe and convenient additional entrance with a vestibule, where an accessible entrance area with markings, a doorbell and a canopy has been set up. The interior space has been adapted for movement around the premises. The rooms are equipped with the necessary furniture and equipment. In total, this made it possible to create 54 additional places to live.
The first floor was also renovated to meet the needs of people with reduced mobility. This includes 6 living rooms, a shower room and a dressing room. These rooms can accommodate people with disabilities, as well as those who help care for them. Our engineers improved a safe and convenient additional entrance with a vestibule, where an accessible entrance area with markings, a doorbell and a canopy has been set up. The interior space has been adapted for movement around the premises. The rooms are equipped with the necessary furniture and equipment. In total, this made it possible to create 54 additional places to live.
Tetiana and Larysa currently reside in one of the rooms on the first floor. The women have known each other for over a year and share that they have become like family during this time.
They recount that they met in Chuhuiv. Larysa came from Biletske. Tetiana came from Kupiansk. Their own homes were completely destroyed.
A year ago, Tetiana was involved in a car accident. During her treatment, she met Larysa. This unfortunate event marked the beginning of their strong friendship. When both women were left homeless, they moved together to the temporary accommodation centre in Dokuchaievske settlement. Here they were given a room on the second floor, but as soon as the renovation was completed, they were able to move to more comfortable conditions.
‘I liked the renovation, the conditions are good, we are warm,’ says Larysa.
They recount that they met in Chuhuiv. Larysa came from Biletske. Tetiana came from Kupiansk. Their own homes were completely destroyed.
A year ago, Tetiana was involved in a car accident. During her treatment, she met Larysa. This unfortunate event marked the beginning of their strong friendship. When both women were left homeless, they moved together to the temporary accommodation centre in Dokuchaievske settlement. Here they were given a room on the second floor, but as soon as the renovation was completed, they were able to move to more comfortable conditions.
‘I liked the renovation, the conditions are good, we are warm,’ says Larysa.
The story of the second TAC begins in the town of Kehychivka, Kharkiv region, in May 2024. Currently, 82 people live there. Most of the residents have been here for almost two years, so renovation has become critically necessary to improve conditions.
This included renovating a residential block for people with reduced mobility with three rooms, a private bathroom with a dressing room and a kitchen, as well as installing an additional entrance with a lift. Six people live in these rooms. Two communal kitchens were also renovated and furnished.
Currently, we are seeing a trend where the lack of necessary living conditions for people with reduced mobility is often the reason for refusing evacuation. Therefore, recognising the urgency of this need, the renovation was carried out in accordance with accessibility requirements.
The third temporary accommodation centre is located in Kharkiv. In order to create 60 additional places for evacuees to live, the floor of a dormitory was renovated.
There are 12 blocks, each of which includes two rooms for five people, a shower room and a bathroom. Two kitchens and a common room for recreation were also equipped. To create comfortable conditions, all interior doors were replaced and engineering communications were updated: water and sewer pipes were laid, electrical wiring was partially replaced, and new heating radiators were installed.
This included renovating a residential block for people with reduced mobility with three rooms, a private bathroom with a dressing room and a kitchen, as well as installing an additional entrance with a lift. Six people live in these rooms. Two communal kitchens were also renovated and furnished.
Currently, we are seeing a trend where the lack of necessary living conditions for people with reduced mobility is often the reason for refusing evacuation. Therefore, recognising the urgency of this need, the renovation was carried out in accordance with accessibility requirements.
The third temporary accommodation centre is located in Kharkiv. In order to create 60 additional places for evacuees to live, the floor of a dormitory was renovated.
There are 12 blocks, each of which includes two rooms for five people, a shower room and a bathroom. Two kitchens and a common room for recreation were also equipped. To create comfortable conditions, all interior doors were replaced and engineering communications were updated: water and sewer pipes were laid, electrical wiring was partially replaced, and new heating radiators were installed.
“Comprehensive work was carried out: the floor, walls and ceiling were renovated, bathrooms and toilets were fitted out, and new plumbing fixtures and boilers were installed. Environmentally friendly and wear-resistant materials were used for the work,” says Vadym Novosiolov, a representative of our Foundation’s Contractor, describing the work that has been done.
Furthermore, UNHCR contractors replaced more than 70 windows in the dormitory to protect the building from draughts and ensure warmth. Seven toilet blocks were also installed on other floors, and building materials were delivered to repair five kitchens.
Liliia Bondarenko, Project Manager at the Charitable Foundation "Angels of Salvation", says: "Unfortunately, as long as there is a need for evacuation, there will also be a need for further accommodation. Our task is to provide accommodation, especially for people with reduced mobility, because this is primarily about enabling them to continue living their lives with dignity. We greatly appreciate our cooperation with UNHCR, as it provides people with a place to live when they are forced to leave their homes."
Liliia Bondarenko, Project Manager at the Charitable Foundation "Angels of Salvation", says: "Unfortunately, as long as there is a need for evacuation, there will also be a need for further accommodation. Our task is to provide accommodation, especially for people with reduced mobility, because this is primarily about enabling them to continue living their lives with dignity. We greatly appreciate our cooperation with UNHCR, as it provides people with a place to live when they are forced to leave their homes."
The fourth TAC is also located in Kharkiv. Four kitchens were renovated there, which can be used by 120 residents. A break room was also set up for everyone living in this TAC.
With the support of UNHCR, we are continuing our activities in 2026 and plan to restore temporary accommodation centres in the Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv and Sumy regions in order to be able to provide housing to those in need.
