ESF-SI-2024-UA-01-0013 

According to the UNHCR, 22% of Ukrainian refugee households include members with disabilities who face greater challenges in accessing rights and healthcare. As displacement continues, their vulnerability may increase, influencing decisions about return due to difficulties in securing long-term housing. Additionally, 13% of households with vulnerable members require alternative accommodation once free programs end, yet face persistent barriers in finding employment and suitable housing. Research by the OECD highlights the challenge of ensuring adequate and affordable housing for people with disabilities, underscoring the need for innovative solutions.  

The EU.RESP.4UA focuses on Ukrainian refugees who fled to Italy (Milan), Lithuania (Vilnius/Kaunas), and Romania (Iasi), seeking long-term housing solutions or accommodations in health centres, often in isolation from the wider community. The project aims to foster the integration and social inclusion of refugees from Ukraine, specifically those with special needs. It does so by building on an innovative solution currently implemented in Italy and by launching a multi-layered, multi-stakeholder set of supporting actions. These efforts will culminate in a reinforced, integrated model specifically tailored to vulnerable refugees, including those with physical or mental disabilities, orphan backgrounds, and post-traumatic disorders. Grounded in a housing-first approach, the project will design and implement both strategic (policy-oriented) and tactical actions to create an inclusive and enabling environment that supports skills development and independent living. This will include initiatives to enhance job-related competencies and improve access to social services. Furthermore, the project will design and deploy a community-based social experimentation project, building on new—and reinforced—forms of collaboration among policymakers at European, regional and local levels, alongside civil society organisations, social cooperatives, foundations, social housing providers, citizens, refugees communities and the private sector.

Funding: 699,933.00 Eur