Leaving home because of war is never an easy decision. But reaching a safer country does not always mean that all difficulties are left behind.

For many Ukrainian refugees, adapting to a new environment brings additional challenges, including housing insecurity, financial difficulties, discrimination, emotional stress, and concerns about their children’s well-being.

This is the story of a Ukrainian mother and her teenage daughter who found themselves facing several of these challenges after arriving in Lithuania.

Seeking Safety, Facing New Challenges

The mother and daughter fled Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, to escape continuous shelling. After a long and difficult journey, they eventually arrived in Vilnius, hoping to find safety and begin rebuilding their lives.

However, finding stable accommodation proved much more difficult than expected.

According to the mother, she repeatedly faced refusals when trying to rent housing because of her Ukrainian nationality. Without a secure place to live, the family struggled to establish stability in their new environment.

At the same time, the stress of displacement and adaptation affected their family life. The mother was particularly concerned about her teenage daughter’s health and well-being as they navigated unfamiliar surroundings and difficult personal circumstances.

The family needed more than a single service. They needed practical assistance, emotional support, and help finding a way forward.

Comprehensive Support Through RefAid BaltHUB

At a critical moment, the mother reached out for assistance.

Through RefAid BaltHUB, implemented in Lithuania in partnership with Association Demetra, the family received support addressing several urgent needs.

The assistance included:

• Emergency financial assistance: a €60 Maxima supermarket voucher to help cover essential everyday expenses.
• Housing support: assistance with finding suitable accommodation and covering housing costs.
• Educational support: financial assistance to purchase the necessary school supplies for the daughter.
• Psychological and emotional support: helping the mother navigate a difficult family situation and cope with the challenges of displacement.

This combination of services was important because the family’s difficulties were interconnected.

Without stable housing, it was harder to focus on education and everyday life. Financial insecurity added further pressure, while emotional stress made it more difficult to manage an already challenging situation.

By addressing several needs together, the project helped the family take steps towards greater stability.

Support Is More Than Solving One Problem

This story illustrates why comprehensive assistance is essential when working with refugees and families in vulnerable situations.

A request for housing support may also involve financial difficulties, health concerns, emotional exhaustion, or challenges related to children’s education and well-being.

Providing one service without considering the broader situation may not be enough.

Within RefAid BaltHUB, the aim is to understand people’s circumstances and help them access relevant services and practical support.

This approach recognises that each person has different needs and that meaningful assistance should respect their dignity, privacy, and right to make decisions about their own lives.

A New Beginning

Thanks to the support received, the mother was able to navigate a difficult family crisis, take steps to protect her daughter’s well-being, and begin rebuilding a more stable life in Lithuania.

She expressed sincere gratitude for the timely assistance and the opportunity to regain a sense of safety.

For RefAid BaltHUB, stories like this demonstrate the importance of combining practical assistance with psychosocial support.

Safety is not only about reaching a country where there is no war. It is also about having a place to live, being able to care for your family, accessing essential services, and knowing that support is available when you need it.

Through cooperation with local partners, RefAid BaltHUB continues supporting Ukrainian refugees in Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia, helping people navigate difficult circumstances and rebuild their lives with dignity.

Everyone deserves safety, respect, and the opportunity for a new beginning.

This story has been anonymised, and certain personal details have been omitted to protect the family’s privacy.