Continuous Support After Evacuation: East SOS Helps Evacuees in Shelters

Adapting to the new life is a vital part of the evacuation journey, managed by the East SOS team. The rescue process doesn’t end the moment someone reaches safety. The real work begins with the search for housing, resettlement, and the challenging transition to new conditions after the loss of one’s home, loved ones, and the familiar life they once knew.

The East SOS psychosocial support team makes regular visits to the shelters and residential care homes where evacuees are staying. This is our way of standing by them at a time when their inner sense of safety has yet to return.

Since the spring of 2025, the East SOS regional team has been supporting residents at the Bez Mezh (Without Borders) shelter in the village of Stetseva (Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast), as well as residential care homes in Probizhna and Kolyndiany (Ternopil Oblast). These facilities house senior citizens and people with disabilities evacuated from frontline communities in the Donetsk Oblast and Dnipro Oblast. Our team renovated and equipped these homes specifically for those who cannot live independently and require ongoing support.

During field visits, our specialists engage with both residents and staff members. We assist with adaptation, help manage anxiety and fatigue, and rebuild inner resilience through conversation, simple grounding techniques, and creative activities. Special attention is given to shelter staff. Since shelter staff provide daily care to the residents and are often exposed to the trauma of the people they care for, they are at a high risk of burnout over time.

Stetseva (Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast)

Kolyndiany (Ternopil Oblast)

Probizhna (Ternopil Oblast)

“Every three to four months, we visit shelter residents to monitor their well-being and provide necessary support. We offer one-on-one consultations and creative workshops for psychological relief. For example, we make paper cards and little pumpkins out of pipe cleaners. It’s a flexible material, so it’s perfect for seniors to handle. These activities may seem simple, but they go a long way in bringing back a sense of peace. For many, it’s deeply meaningful that the people who rescued them are still there for them,” said Olha Oliinyk, Regional Manager of East SOS.

This level of support is only possible when there are people who really care. As the war continues, an increasing number of people who cannot leave frontline areas on their own need more than just an evacuation, they need long-term care and support. Through this work, we ensure that no one has to face their trauma in isolation, helping them lay the foundation for a fresh start.

Field visits are carried out as part of the project Support for War-Affected Vulnerable Groups and Residents of Remote Areas of Ukraine, with financial support from the European Union.

Just recently, the East SOS team managed to find homes for nine people who were evacuated from frontline settlements in Donetsk Oblast and Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.