Housing for veterans

Project description

Many volunteers return from the war for different reasons. Some remain in Ukraine, but most cannot return to their homeland for understandable reasons. They therefore travel to the countries where they had previously been forced to flee from the repression of the Lukashenka regime, mainly Poland and Lithuania. Today, a significant number of former volunteers are returning to Poland and already face problems with social reintegration. Housing is the first issue: immediately after arrival, many have nowhere to stay.

Helping to solve this problem is a task within our means and our moral duty.

The Housing for Veterans project provides short-term hostel accommodation for veterans and their family members for no longer than one calendar month.

It is difficult to calculate the total number of beds needed over the full duration of the project. Our goal is to provide overnight accommodation to at least 20 veterans and members of their families during the year.

The expected stay for one person will range from one day (24 hours) to one calendar month (30 days), depending on the individual situation.

After every successful case of providing a bed, room and hostel placement, the participant will be invited to complete a survey. It will help identify the need for other individual support, accommodation-related needs, and suggestions for improving the project.

Activities and main project stages

1. Prepare the project documentation: calculate the budget, identify the costs of working with hostels, and find partners.
2. Find and rent a bed or room in a hostel that meets the project’s aims and requirements.
3. When necessary, purchase personal hygiene items: a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo and a towel.
4. Process data and collect statistics and participant feedback. This will be used to refine the project, assess the quality of its preparation and continuing relevance, and plan the work for the next calendar year.

Details and budget

Monthly rate: many hostels offer discounts for a month-long booking. The fixed cost is approximately PLN 750–900 per bed.

Nightly rate: at an average of PLN 50–70 per night, 30 days would cost from PLN 1,500 to PLN 2,100 or more.

Conditions: utilities and basic amenities such as Wi‑Fi, a shared kitchen and a shower are normally included. Laundry or a private room may cost extra.

A 30-day hostel stay for one person in Warsaw costs an average of PLN 750–1,500 — approximately EUR 175–350 or USD 180–380 — when a bed in a shared room is rented on a long-term basis.

The estimated hostel accommodation budget is €7,000.

Minimum personal hygiene kit

In Warsaw, a basic kit — a toothbrush, toothpaste, bar or liquid soap, shampoo and a small terry towel — costs approximately PLN 25–45 when budget options are purchased in supermarkets. This is about €5.50–10.