Latvian group pays rent for Ukrainians with a lease

Olena Korzhova, who lives in Riga with her husband and 16-year-old son, has joined a project run by AGIHAS, a non-profit association that supports people living with HIV. The project helps Ukrainians integrate in Latvia and helps those who decide to return to Ukraine.

The work covers social and medical services, social and legal advice, documents, job search, and prevention and testing for HIV and hepatitis C. It also includes financial compensation for housing rent and help with registering a place of residence. Olena carries out the first consultations, while senior colleagues give more detailed advice and review applications for financial help.

The support is for the Ukrainian community and can go to people on low incomes, single mothers and fathers with children, pensioners, LGBT people, people living with HIV, and other vulnerable groups.

Cash is not handed out. Help can take the form of gift cards for food at major Latvian retail chains or compensation for rent for a set period. Recipients must have an official housing rental contract, and the gift cards cannot be used to buy alcohol.

The project has run since the middle of last year’s summer. In September, 30 people contacted the organisation for different kinds of help, and seven received financial support. In urgent cases the organisation can pay at once, for example when someone falls ill and cannot finish treatment, or when a mother cannot pay for a child’s speech-therapy lessons. Management decides, and if it approves, the mother submits an invoice and the organisation transfers the money.

People who choose to return to Ukraine can get help with documents and translation, advice on the return, choosing housing for the family, and contacts with state and non-governmental organisations. Olena said such families have many questions, including where to live and which route to take, and described the work as logistics support through to the destination.

The project is due to continue for almost another year. Olena invited Ukrainians in Latvia who need help to contact AGIHAS.