Support, care and recovery: how our shelter worked in 2024

27-05-2025 · 24 min for reading

On May 28, 2023, the “Shelter” was created by the “CF “The Way of Ukraine”” in the Kharkiv region. Our shelter became a temporary home for hundreds of people who were forced to leave their homes due to the war.

During its operation, the shelter received 4,600 people, including children, people with limited mobility, the elderly, people with disabilities, and pets. Most of our residents were evacuated from temporarily occupied territories, as well as Kharkiv, Sumy and Donetsk regions - these are territories that are constantly under threat of shelling, where active hostilities are underway, or where living conditions have become critically dangerous.

The functioning of the shelter is ensured by the coordinated work of employees from various areas:

  • manager
  • administrators
  • case managers
  • psychologist
  • nurse
  • caregiver
  • cleaner
  • drivers

Management: daily work for a great cause

The daily activities of the shelter of the NGO “CF “The Way of Ukraine”” are coordinated by the manager, who is responsible for the sustainability, efficiency and development of all areas of assistance. It is thanks to her efforts that the team works harmoniously, and each person in the shelter receives the necessary support.

The scope of responsibilities includes: organizing the work of the staff, drawing up schedules, distributing tasks, holding meetings and strategic planning. As well as carrying out daily monitoring of the number of residents and assessing the effectiveness of the team's work. She communicates with the public, media, partners and donors, and also actively attracts humanitarian aid.

Administrators: support and support from the first minutes

Administrators are the first people who meet internally displaced persons after evacuation. They provide initial reception and create an atmosphere of trust and security. During temporary accommodation in the shelter, administrators take into account the gender characteristics, emotional and physical condition of people, as well as their personal wishes, in order to offer the most comfortable housing.

During settlement, administrators fill out the “IDP Registration Form” and identify the main needs and problems with which people arrived. They also ensure the provision of necessary household items, freshly prepared food, and maintain general order in the shelter.

In addition to organizational responsibilities, administrators play an important psychological role - they support IDPs in difficult life circumstances, listen to their stories, experiences, and help them feel that they are not alone.

Individual consultations: support in difficult life situations

In the Shelters for IDPs, case managers play a key role in the support system for people who find themselves in difficult life circumstances. Throughout 2024, each evacuee received professional individual support.

Case managers work in accordance with the principles of non-discrimination, confidentiality, voluntary participation and focus on the needs of each person.

  1. Conduct an initial interview using the “IDP Needs Questionnaire” to assess the individual needs of IDPs.
  2. Create an individual assistance plan taking into account current needs.
  3. Provide assistance in finding housing in safe regions of Ukraine and select adapted accommodation options for people with limited mobility.
  4. Provide assistance in issuing and renewing documents: passport of a citizen of Ukraine, international passport, taxpayer card, animal documents, birth certificate, driver's license, migrant certificate, renewal of education documents.
  5. Advise on issues of guardianship, orphan status, acquisition citizenship.
  6. Support in the registration of pensions and social payments.
  7. Support the process of registering multi-purpose cash assistance and individual cash assistance from the Protection cluster for rental housing.
  8. Assistance in concluding a declaration with a family doctor and undergoing medical examinations.
  9. Support for IDPs throughout the entire process of receiving assistance and services.

The “Way of Ukraine” Charitable Foundation remains close to those who are forced to start life from scratch, providing not only assistance, but also attention and support.

Medical support is the first step to recovery

The “Shelter” has organized medical support for people who were evacuated due to the war and are temporarily living in the shelter.

Main areas of assistance:

  • initial medical examination upon settlement;
  • identification of chronic and acute diseases, risk assessment;
  • formulation of an individual treatment plan;
  • providing medical consultations and basic medications;
  • referral to doctors and support to a family doctor;
  • screening of psycho-emotional state, referral to a psychologist or psychiatrist;
  • maintaining electronic records of appeals and protecting personal data.

A significant part of internally displaced persons, especially the elderly, who arrived from deoccupied territories or zones of active hostilities, were deprived of access to medical care for a long time. Many of them had not previously sought medical services at all or had only undergone a partial examination. As a result, there was no complete clinical picture of their chronic diseases. That is why the provision of medical care in the shelter is extremely relevant and necessary.

Beside in the most difficult moments: psychological support and assistance

Every person who comes to the shelter receives primary psychological assistance - after experiencing shelling, loss of housing, evacuation and a long journey to safety. Psychological assistance includes both individual and group sessions for adults and children.

Main areas of work:

  • Consultative conversations;
  • Thematic trainings;
  • Art therapy;
  • Relaxation techniques;
  • Working with psychosomatics;
  • Working with children;
  • Aroma and meditation practices;
  • Psychoeducation.

The psychologist pays special attention to supporting the shelter team: regular sessions for employees aimed at preventing emotional burnout, increasing stress resistance, and developing internal resources.

Support for people with limited mobility

In March 2024, we opened a "Shelter for People with Limited Mobility" on the territory of the shelter to organize care for people with limited mobility, the sick, bedridden, and the elderly. During the year, 101 people lived in it - people with amputated limbs, postoperative conditions, cerebral palsy, age-related and serious illnesses, paralyzed people after a stroke, people with cancer.

The shelter provides basic care for people who need outside help due to their health or age:

  • people with limited mobility who have partial disorders of the musculoskeletal system;
  • bedridden patients who cannot move and care for themselves independently;
  • people with serious chronic diseases (cardiovascular, oncological, neurological pathologies);
  • elderly people who need daily support, medical supervision and social support.

All residents receive constant support from our teams.

The form of care includes:

  1. Assistance with personal hygiene:
    • assistance in taking a shower
    • washing
    • washing
    • changing underwear
    • changing diapers and nappies
    • combing hair
    • cutting fingernails and toenails
  2. Controlling medication intake according to the recommendations of a medical professional
  3. Monitoring general health:
    • monitoring blood pressure
    • monitoring body temperature
    • measuring glucose levels
    • treating household wounds
    • preventing the appearance of bedsores through regular changing body position
    • treatment and care of existing bedsores using special creams
  4. Nutritional assistance:
    • raising food
    • feeding
    • preparing food and diet for a person with diabetes
  5. assistance in moving around the shelter (if necessary, using walkers, wheelchairs):
    • walking in the fresh air
  6. Organizing a nurse's examination and accompaniment to medical institutions.
    • calling a doctor/EMD team (if necessary)
  7. Cleaning and maintaining cleanliness in the house
  8. Laundry and ironing of clothes
  9. Providing humanitarian assistance (clothes, personal hygiene products)
  10. Organizing a nurse's examination and accompaniment to medical institutions.
    • calling a doctor/EMD team (if necessary)
  11. Cleaning and maintaining cleanliness in the house
  12. Laundry and ironing of clothes
  13. Providing humanitarian assistance (clothes, personal hygiene products)

Providing comprehensive support and care for people with limited mobility is an important component of our activities. We strive to create comfortable conditions for their daily lives, providing medical care, cleanliness, and necessary things so that they can feel confident and supported during this difficult period.

Food and living conditions

Residents of shelters are provided with three meals a day.

A set meal includes:

  • First course: borscht/soup/okroshka;
  • Garnish: rice porridge/buckwheat porridge/pasta;
  • Meat dish: cutlets/stew/roasted chicken;
  • Salad: vinaigrette/vegetable salad/cabbage salad.

In addition, residents are provided with food and have the opportunity to cook independently in the kitchen, often not only for themselves, but also for others, creating a shared atmosphere of support.

Infrastructure and repairs

2024 was also the year of a significant renewal of living conditions. We have carried out a number of repair and construction works:

  • overhaul of bathrooms and showers with accessibility for people with disabilities;
  • updating of sewage systems, modernization of water supply systems;
  • repair of electrical wiring and lighting in all residential areas;
  • purchase of new furniture, household appliances, beds and mattresses;
  • arrangement of a children's playroom and playground;
  • arrangement of a coworking space for training.

Our Partners

In 2024, we received strong support from dozens of organizations, thanks to which we were able to provide the shelter residents with everything they needed: from food and medicine to travel tickets and psychological support.

Among the partners we collaborated with:

  • Nonviolent Peaceforce – humanitarian support;
  • Mercy Corps – humanitarian support;
  • Helpdeskmedia – humanitarian support;
  • NGO “Common Cause” – certificates for the purchase of medicines;
  • Zhuravlyok Hub – basic necessities for IDPs;
  • Norwegian Refugee Council – multi-purpose cash assistance, food kits, cash payments for housing rent;
  • CBF “Dusha Kharkov – Roxana and the Team” and CF “Chervona Kalina Kharkiv” — ready meals for residents;
  • Action Against Hunger — psychological and medical assistance, medicines, hygiene kits;
  • Helping to Leave — purchase of travel tickets;
  • Samaritan’s Purse — food kits;
  • HEKS EPER and the Ukrainian Red Cross Society — hygiene, including feminine hygiene;
  • Katya’s Medicine — medical supplies;
  • NGO “Healthy Nation – the Future of Ukraine” — drinking water;
  • BO “WE ARE BROTHERS, WE ARE Ukrainians” and CBF “Blago” — kits for people with special needs.

We are sincerely grateful to every partner who joined our cause. It is thanks to this support that we create a space of safety and recovery for people who have experienced extremely difficult circumstances every day.

Logistics support for IDPs and shelter teams

Drivers of the “Way of Ukraine” foundation provide daily transportation and support for internally displaced persons living in the shelter.

The IDP route starts from the Transit Point and leads to the shelter, and also includes important stops according to people's needs.

Every day, the case manager forms a logistical route that includes:

  • hospitals
  • banks
  • social institutions
  • train stations
  • rental housing addresses
  • geriatrics and homes for the elderly
  • dormitories etc.

Our drivers also bring and take shelter employees daily, as the shelter is located outside of Kharkiv and public transport operates intermittently.

Coordinated logistics is the key to effective team work and stable support for IDPs.

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