Ukraine: War has caused massive increase in homelessness

Photo by Dmytro Tolokonov on Unsplash

Source: Depaul Trust

The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia has drastically altered the scale of homelessness in the country, a report by expert national homelessness charity Depaul Ukraine finds. For 46% of individuals experiencing homelessness, conflict or occupation were the primary reasons for losing their homes.

The report finds that official state statistics fails to capture the reality of homelessness in Ukraine. The actual number of people experiencing homelessness in Ukraine is estimated to be 5 to 10 times higher than official figures suggest, leaving thousands of affected individuals outside the social protection system.

Depaul Ukraine, working to address homelessness in Ukraine since 2007, has seen an increase in homelessness since the start of the full-scale invasion.

Director of Depaul Ukraine, Anna Skoryk said: "This study exposes a massive gap between the reality on the ground and the perception of homelessness. It is impossible to overcome a crisis whose true scale remains invisible to the state, especially while certain societal stereotypes about people experiencing homelessness persist.

These data points must not merely state a fact but rather serve as the foundation for reforming state social policy and transitioning toward a housing-led model for those experiencing homelessness."

Current state figures suggest 12,500 individuals are experiencing homelessness in the country. However, the actual number of people visiting assistance centres ranges between 57,000 and 121,000. Experts estimate that the total number of people experiencing homelessness, including those who do not seek institutional help, could exceed one million.

Veterans remain at high risk of experiencing homelessness. The number of assistance requests from veterans is steadily increasing as they face severe challenges reintegrating into civilian life.

While 70% of Ukrainians associate homelessness with substance abuse, the survey results reveal that 63% of people experiencing homelessness have never experienced alcohol addiction, and 92% have never experienced with drug addiction. Frequently, addiction is a consequence rather than a cause of living on the street.

63% of those experiencing homelessness have been without housing for more than two years, and the vast majority (86%) would like support to return to a stable life.

Today, Depaul Ukraine will launch the findings at a conference in Kyiv, 'Right to a dignified life: conference on addressing the homelessness crisis in Ukraine.' The conference brings together government representatives and international experts on homelessness, including delegates from the London Homelessness Foundation.

Director of the London Homelessness Foundation, Ian Brady said: "We are honoured to be joining colleagues in Ukraine this week for the launch of this important research, contributing to discussions at the conference, and meeting with partners who are working tirelessly to support people experiencing homelessness, including those whose lives have been disrupted by the war. It is very impressive seeing the work that is being done to prepare to tackle the problem of homelessness while the country is suffering the effects of the full-scale invasion.

By sharing knowledge and learning from one another, we can strengthen our collective response to homelessness both in Ukraine and internationally."

The analytical report was prepared by the Depaul Ukraine in cooperation with the Rating Sociological Group and the Mykhailo Ptoukha Institute for Demography and Quality of Life Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, with financial support from CAFOD. The survey was conducted from April 1 to April 30, 2026. Methodology: a survey of 1,090 individuals experiencing homelessness (Kyiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Lviv), interviews with 250 individuals experiencing homelessness, 10 expert interviews, and a nationwide poll of 1,200 respondents among the general population of Ukraine.

LINKS

DePaul Ukraine: https://depaul.org.ua/

Depaul group: https://int.depaulcharity.org/

Report: Homelessness in Ukraine in Wartime:
https://depaul.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/07/homelessness-reserch-full-eng.pdf