To help IDPs integrate into community life awareness of their rights and opportunities to influence local affairs The importance of such steps was highlighted by a survey conducted and presented in the summer of this year by the Khmilnyk-based NGO Pravo A significant number of displaced persons who have taken refuge during the war in the Khmilnyk Community experience isolation and have difficulty integrating into public life few displaced persons are actively involved in decision-making at the community level and those people are not sufficiently aware of their rights or opportunities to participate in public life Such conclusions were reached following a Capacity of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to Influence Decision-Making within the Khmilnyk City Territorial Community Survey* carried out in August this year by the Pravo NGO in Khmilnyk During the event held on August 26 at the Murashnyk Resource Center** the organization presented the results of a survey among 80 people displaced to the community since the beginning of the full-scale invasion The study aimed to investigate the ability of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to influence decision-making processes in the Khmilnyk City Territorial Community as well as to identify factors affecting their participation in these areas and opportunities for improving the integration of IDPs into public life and the further practical steps the organization has already begun to take *The full survey can be found HERE or downloaded at the bottom of this article ** Read more about the activities of the Anthill Hub here: If you have notices an error on the web-site Print and place the Network's poster on a notice board in your entrance hall Become a volunteer and assist others in finding problem solutions https://ldn.org.ua/en/success-story/research-for-help-what-idps-of-khmilnytsia-community-survey-revealed/ i один з експертiв Мережi надасть вiдповiдь Графік роботи чату: з 10:00 до 16:00 щодня(обідня перерва з 13:00 до 14:00) Поставте питання через LawLink Bot в будь-який зручний спосіб LawLink Bot — це розумний та цифровий юридичний помічник Web-site development — demch.co Vienna – Since the onset of the war in Ukraine approximately 1.4 million residential units have suffered damage With 3.7 million people internally displaced within Ukraine and 4.6 million returnees the provision of affordable housing and reconstruction is a priority The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and international experts are working toward establishing a sustainable housing rental system by sharing Europe-wide best practices with municipalities in Ukraine This week in Vienna over 70 representatives from academia and international institutions in Europe came together to discuss affordable housing with municipal authorities from all over Ukraine “Access to adequate and dignified housing has long been a priority for IOM to support the reconstruction and rehabilitation required for sustainable recovery,” IOM Regional Director for South-Eastern Europe IOM's current housing projects include the construction of residential facilities in five regions of Ukraine alongside the establishment of an affordable rental mechanism for displaced people About 2,000 flats for approximately 6,000 people will be constructed under this initiative Estimates of the cost of direct damage to buildings and public infrastructure in Ukraine totals USD 135 billion and this figure is increasing as the war continues “In the context of its accession to the EU Ukraine has a unique opportunity to leverage the extensive experience of EU Member States in the sector of social and affordable housing,” said Lionel Rapaille Director for EU Enlargement and Neighbourhood Countries at EIB “Bringing the European Investment Bank’s expertise as a leading international financier and as the EU Bank we are well-positioned to help Ukraine transform its affordable housing sector meeting the needs of its people effectively.” One of the Ukrainian municipalities participating in the IOM housing project is Khmilnyk her husband and teenage son relocated there from the eastern city of Kharkiv which has suffered intense shelling all through the war but there are no collective centres we could stay at creating normal conditions for my son is my priority," says Yulia Shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 Khmilnyk hosted about 12,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) like Yulia increasing the population of the town by almost 20 per cent A recent survey of IDPs conducted by local authorities revealed that housing and employment are their main concerns The homes of thousands of displaced people were damaged by hostilities even if they come from areas controlled by Ukraine "When asked about their temporary accommodation people reported the lack of amenities such as hot water More than 40 per cent of IDPs surveyed in Khmilnyk said that they rent without contracts Many live in housing that is not suitable for winter," said Serhii Redchyk “This innovative approach to affordable municipal housing sets out to create an environment where everyone feels safe and lives in humane conditions Finding solutions will contribute to the comprehensive development of our community,” he added Among the topics of discussion and workshops during the Vienna event were financing mechanisms over 4.4 million individuals have been supported by IOM through shelter and housing activities in Ukraine IOM’s response has included life-saving shelter repair and reconstruction of damaged homes a Plan for the Integration of Internally Displaced Persons into Community Life was developed and approved It will help those who are forced to flee the war to integrate into the community as comfortably as possible.  it implemented and continues to implement more than a dozen useful initiatives to help IDPs becoming a cozy and supportive space for both displaced people and local residents everyone can receive social and legal assistance and personally participate in numerous initiatives that help adults and children not only to survive in war conditions but also to integrate into the community as comfortably as possible The conclusion that there is an acute problem in the community in the systematic analysis of the needs of internally displaced persons as well as in the development of a clear plan that would contribute to meeting these needs and solving the problems of IDPs was made by the Pravo team on the basis of the activities of the hub and after conducting a series of consultations with representatives of local authorities and with the IDPs themselves Vitalii adds that according to the Center for the Provision of Administrative Services of the Khmilnyk City Territorial Community more than 7,230 internally displaced persons since not all who moved to the Khmilnyk community registered In the fall of 2022, the project team conducted a sociological study of the problems and needs of internally displaced persons who found shelter in the Khmilnyk community A two-day facilitation session was also held as well as internally displaced persons took part Having analyzed all the received information developed a Plan for the integration of IDPs into community life there was a public discussion of the plan with the participation of all interested parties — and its approval by the executive committee of the Khmilnyk City Council on March 15 The measures provided for in the integration plan will help to solve the following urgent issues: To get acquainted with the Plan for the Integration of IDPs into Community Life click here (in Ukrainian) https://ldn.org.ua/en/success-story/the-khmilnyk-residents-have-drawn-up-a-clear-plan-that-will-help-the-resettled-people-to-integrate-into-the-community/ Author: Olena Orlova/ Legal Development Network communication activities are being carried out in the hub to involve internally displaced people in volunteer activities People saved animals – but it was nothing to feed them When we realized the scale of the necessary help and that such needs are not fulled by ourselves we began to turn directly to the feed producers “Dog” stories of kindness and rescue The idea of the “Sady Peremogy” (Gardens of Victory) helped more than 200 families “Pravo” also has a “medical case” in its list of good deeds After consultations with the representatives of the local center for primary health care the department of information activity and communication of the city council as well as with the internally displaced people living in villages of Khmilnyk municipality “Pravo” made an application for the contest of the International Foundation “Renaissance” called “Grant Humanitarian Program “Humanitarian Solidarity” (The Fund is implementing the program in partnership and with financial support from CARE Deutschlande.V.) “Renaissance” has supported the direct purchase of medical equipment application and the organization has already received seven cardiographs for the Khmilnyk municipality * The humanitarian hub “Murashnyk” works at the address: Khmilnyk https://ldn.org.ua/en/success-story/murashnyk-of-good-deeds-lawyers-and-activists-from-khmilnyk-help-both-people-and-animals-to-survive-the-war/ The “Murashnyk” (Anthill) humanitarian hub, founded at the beginning of the full-scale invasion by lawyers and activists of the Khmilnyk public organization “Pravo” is expanding and implementing new projects A few more have been added to the five initiatives to help displaced people people receive not only legal assistance but also comprehensive support in adapting to a new life in the conditions of war.    the activists managed not only to support and continue the started activities but also to implement new ones Training on the topic “Integration and socialization of IDPs” took place on the basis of the hub with the support of the Ukrainian-German program of support for local initiatives “Kyiv Dialog” and the English Club continue to function in “Murashnyk” They also provide legal and psychological assistance and conduct activities for children and youth The Hub establishes partnership relations with the mobile team of the international humanitarian aid organization “InterSOS” with the representative office of the UNICEF fund These organizations are already conducting and plan to conduct more events for displaced persons at the “Murashnyk” base The hub also hosts meetings of the Public Dialogue Club The Public Dialogue Club: accumulated experience helps to overcome new challenges the main motive for the creation of the Club was the need to involve the potential of the community in the process of reforming local self-government The authors of the idea were convinced that the process of reforming and uniting communities may contain many pitfalls and challenges for territorial communities it was important to involve members of the territorial community in the reform process in order to minimize possible risks Then the team held many meetings of the Club This gave positive results: it was possible to develop a common vision for the future composition of the Khmilnyk community involve active members of the community in these processes and also resolve many pressing issues regarding the future association The main purpose of such meetings is to establish communication and form friendly relations between IDPs and members of the community who permanently live there “Murashnyk” is a big house for everyone What is important about the activity of “Murashnyk” is that it holds events for different target groups many activities for children and youth take place within the framework of the “VilnoHub” (Free Hub) project which is implemented by the “Dream and Act” program as well as within the Scholarship program for civil society leaders of the Eastern Partnership countries the scholarship holder of which is a member of the organization Rymma Koval thanks to how many people the “Anthill” works so briskly and where the energy and resources came from As a result of the work of such an energetic and coordinated team more and more people will learn about “Murashnyk” more and more displaced people are using the “Bank of things” “Murashnyk” plans to significantly expand the circle of those who will receive other services in the humanitarian hub And he adds that “Pravo” is also active outside of “Murashnyk” which the organization is constantly trying to find *Meetings of the Public Dialogue Club will take place within the framework of the project “Khmilnyk community is friendly for all”, which is implemented by the NGO “Pravo” in partnership with the Khmilnyk City Council, the Legal Development Network and the humanitarian hub “Murashnyk” with the financial support of the International Renaissance Foundation https://ldn.org.ua/en/success-story/murashnyk-of-good-deeds-new-initiatives-to-help-displaced-people/