Resources on Support Responses for Refugees Arriving from Ukraine

Focus on Housing

Download the briefing here

Fleeing from the unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine, a high number of people arrived in European countries looking for safe shelter; this translated into even more pressure on an already overwhelmed asylum reception system. As of mid-July, the UNHCR estimated that 5.8 million refugees arrived in Europe, many of which remained in Ukraine’s neighbouring countries. This puts significant pressure on national systems of these countries, and housing is one area which remains among the most challenging.

To alleviate the urgent demand of accommodation for the many individuals in need of support, numerous ad-hoc solutions have been set up by private citizen-led initiatives, often in collaboration with civil society organisations and local authorities. MS and the European Commission have also adopted and implemented new legislation and measures to facilitate access to social rights. Housing has been an important focus.

On this page you will find links to the main relevant resources in terms of legislation and initiatives set up to improve access to safe and adequate housing for refugees arriving from Ukraine which will be periodically updated. Follow us for more news! 

• Activation of the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) by the European Union: Temporary protection is an exceptional measure adopted to provide immediate and temporary protection in the event of a mass influx or imminent mass influx of displaced persons from non-EU countries who are unable to return to their country of origin. The Temporary Protection Directive, which was adopted following the conflicts in former Yugoslavia, was triggered for the first time by the Council of the European Union through COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2022/382 of 4 March 2022 in response to the unprecedented Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 to offer quick and effective assistance to people fleeing the war in Ukraine.
  • What: Under this proposal, those fleeing the war will be granted temporary protection in the EU, meaning that they will be given a residence permit, and they will have access to accommodation, social care services, education and to the labour market.
  • How long: temporary protection (TP) is awarded for one year after which it will be automatically renewed twice for 6 months. This means that TP will last until 4 March 2023 and can be renewed automatically for another year (for periods of six months), meaning until 4 March 2024. This period may be extended for another year depending on the situation in Ukraine.
  • Who: the TPD applies to Ukrainian nationals, refugees in Ukraine, and their family members living in Ukraine before 24 February 2022 (stateless persons and non-Ukrainians living in Ukraine before 24 February 2022 with a permanent residence permit, who are unable to return safely to their country of origin). If a person is not entitled to TP and cannot return, they can apply for asylum (also known as international protection).
  • Where: the TPD applies in all EU members states, except Denmark.

See European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) Who is Who in Temporary Protection for more information.

• The European Commission - Fleeing Ukraine: Access to accommodation and housing.

• European Union Agency for Asylum (May 2022), Practical recommendations on the provision of emergency placement in private accommodation for persons displaced from Ukraine, EUAA Practical Guide Series. This document aims to provide practical recommendations to guide relevant stakeholders (national, regional and local authorities as well as civil society organisations) in matching displaced persons with available private accommodation. These practical recommendations do not aim to replace functioning and existing procedures within EU+ countries, regions, municipalities, districts and communities. Rather, they intend to complement these efforts while ensuring that safeguards for persons in need of emergency shelter and for those providing such accommodation are put in place in a coordinated, safe, effective and systematic manner.

• The European Commission - “Safe Homes Guidance” (July 2022): In its communication from March 2022 “Welcoming those fleeing war in Ukraine - readying Europe to meet the needs”, the Commission announced the “Safe Homes” initiative, to support those private individuals across the EU who have opened their homes to host displaced people. As part of the initiative, the “Safe Homes Guidance” published in July 2022 consolidates the experience, considerations, guidance and good practices from the EU Member States, the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), regions, cities, civil society, foundations, entrepreneurs and individuals involved in these efforts. It aims to support Member States, regional and local authorities as well as civil society organising private housing initiatives, and all those who are making their homes available:

  Safe Home Initiative Factsheet (2)

  Solidarity and housing: Supporting Safe Homes Considerations, key principles and practices

• The Solidarity Platform has been set up to ensure the implementation of the Temporary Protection Directive in close collaboration with all parties. Its role is to monitor the needs identified in EU countries and coordinate the operational response. The Solidarity Platform also provides a general forum for discussion to support the implementation of the 10-Point Plan presented by the Commission after the Extraordinary Justice and Home Affairs Council of 28 March.

The Solidarity Platform, coordinated by DG HOME, brings together

EU countries

Schengen Associated States

EU Agencies (in particular, EU Agency for Asylum, Frontex and Europol)

International Organisation for Migration (IOM), UNHCR and other partners

Ukrainian authorities

The Platform meets on a weekly basis alongside the Council’s Integrated Political Crisis Response (IPCR) as well as the EU Migration Preparedness and Crisis Management Network (the Blueprint).

General information

• Europe Direct hotline and queries: 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 – citizens can call or send written queries – in all official EU languages, Ukrainian and Russian.
• European Commission Information for people fleeing the war in Ukraine.
• EUAA Member State-specific information booklets. These booklets aim to provide more detailed information on various subjects that have been identified as relevant to such displaced persons, with reference to individual Member States, going beyond the general information concerning temporary protection.
• Communication from the Commission to the EP, the European Council, the EESC and the Committee of the Regions, Welcoming those fleeing war in Ukraine: Readying Europe to meet the needs, March 2022.
• ECRE Information Sheet – Measures in response to the arrival of displaced people fleeing the war in Ukraine, as of 31st of May 2022.

To get in touch regarding FEANTSA’s work on migration and asylum, contact Simona Barbu at simona.barbu@feantsa.org.