The activities of IDP Councils lead to the creation of concrete support mechanisms for internally displaced persons (IDPs). This demonstrates the Councils’ influence on strategic decision-making within communities. The examples of Kalush and Lubny show how consistent work by IDP Councils can result in significant changes in local housing and social policies.
Kalush: Creating a Housing Fund for IDPs
In the Kalush community (Ivano-Frankivska Oblast), a decision was made to establish a temporary housing fund for internally displaced people and to launch a register for those in need of such housing. This was the result of an initiative by the IDP Council under the Kalush City Council, supported by the local authorities.
Housing is one of the most urgent needs of IDPs in the community. Regular surveys conducted by the IDP Council show that most displaced people cannot afford to rent housing on their own and need temporary accommodation. Many of them came to Kalush from Donetska, Luhanska, Khersonska, Kharkivska, and Sumska oblasts because their homes were occupied, destroyed, or damaged.
The IDP Council approached the Kalush City Council with a proposal to approve a procedure for forming a housing fund and registering citizens in need of temporary housing. The Charity Foundation Stabilization Support Services (CF SSS) supported this initiative as part of a project funded by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine. The foundation’s expert team trained Council members and local officials, provided legal advice, and helped prepare an official appeal to the city council.
At the end of 2024, the Kalush City Council adopted the decision, and in January 2025 it approved the updated procedure. Internally displaced people were then able to apply and be added to the official register of those in need of temporary housing.
For many, this decision became a real opportunity to improve their living conditions. The displaced woman from the Mykolaivska Oblast applied in early spring, as renting housing is financially difficult, especially for mothers with children, CF SSS reports.
The introduction of the housing register is the first step toward systematic housing policy solutions. In the future, local authorities will be able to attract grant resources to expand the temporary housing fund.
Lubny: Targeted Aid for Firewood and Medical Treatment
In the Lubny community (Poltavska Oblast), IDPs received the opportunity to apply for material assistance for medical treatment and firewood for heating. This decision resulted from the initiative of the IDP Council under the Lubny City Council, supported by the local authorities.
Many IDPs in the community live in rural areas where firewood is essential, especially during the heating season. According to the head of the IDP Council, displaced people often highlighted the need for such support during personal meetings and consultations.
Among other initiatives of the Council was a proposal to provide one-time assistance to people with serious illnesses.
The Council actively cooperated with SSS’s regional team in the Poltava region. In 2024, they monitored local programs, identified gaps, and developed proposals to strengthen the social protection of IDPs. As a result, amendments were made to the Comprehensive Program for the Development of Social Protection of the Population for 2025–2027. These changes clarified the categories of recipients and made assistance more targeted.
Thanks to these improvements, in 2025 nine displaced persons applied for one-time medical aid, and four applied for firewood. To receive firewood, applicants must contact the Administrative Service Center and submit the required documents (passport, tax ID, income certificate, IDP certificate, and a housing inspection report confirming the absence of gas heating). The assistance is provided once a year — three cubic meters of firewood free of charge.
IDPs from Kharkiv and Crimea said that this assistance allowed them to survive the last winter in rural homes without gas. Previously, they could not receive such support due to vague program wording, but after the update, the situation improved.
The stories of Kalush and Lubny demonstrate that IDP Councils not only raise urgent issues but also successfully drive change. Establishing a housing register, amending social programs, and building cooperation with local authorities are concrete steps that improve the quality of life for displaced people. This approach strengthens communities’ capacity to respond to challenges systematically and ensures a fairer distribution of resources.
This publication was made with the support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine. The content of the publication is the sole responsibility of the Charitable Organization “Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” and does not reflect the views of UNHCR.