In Kirovohrad region, the first internally displaced family prepares for a housewarming under the House in the Countryside program
The village of Velyka Skeliova in Kirovohrad region has sheltered nearly a hundred internally displaced families since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Today, it is one of the most active communities to join the pilot project House in the Countryside. Serhiy Mohylnyi, the village head, says that the displaced persons integrated into the community quickly and are now actively developing local agriculture.
The Gapon family, who are internally displaced, have already chosen a house in Velyka Skeliova with the help of specialists from the Department of Social and Veteran Policy of the Svitlovodsk City Council.
“There are three of us – myself, my husband, and our son. We really liked this house and the fact that there is land nearby where we can start a vegetable garden,” says Nina Gapon.
Once the housing becomes property of the community, the Rokada team will consider options for assisting with its furnishing and arrangement.
“The house is in quite good condition. Currently, we are looking into helping the family resolve a critical infrastructure issue – either replacing the windows or updating the roof. We will be able to say for sure after a detailed inspection,” says Nataliia Saprykina, an engineer at the Rokada regional office in Kirovohrad region.
In total, nearly five hundred people live in the village. Velyka Skeliova is located ten kilometers away from the center, Svitlovodsk.
“Svitlovodsk community is currently the only one in the Kirovohrad region to participate in the experimental project House in the Countryside. In 2022, we sheltered more than 10,000 internally displaced persons. Today, over seven thousand remain with us,” says Iryna Kotenko, Director of the Social and Veterans Policy Department of the City Council. “Three houses have already been approved for us, which we will purchase with state funds this year. We are already prepared to submit two more houses for next year.”
The government initiative A House in the Countryside allows internally displaced Ukrainians to settle in rural areas free of charge. Essentially, the project provides for long-term housing use. In 17 regions, Rokada teams have joined the implementation of this initiative. The foundation’s specialists inform, escort, and support both the residents themselves and the communities.
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