Before the start of the full-scale war, 77-year-old Valentyna lived in her own apartment and took care of everyday family matters. Because of the war, she was forced to leave her home and move with her son to a safer place, becoming an internally displaced person.
The family faced a loss of their sense of safety and the need to restore their housing rights, as their apartment, which is co-owned by Valentyna and her son, was damaged as a result of hostilities. Due to the complexity of the procedure and the need to enter information correctly into the government service Diia, Valentyna had difficulties submitting an application independently for a housing certificate under the eVidnovlennia programme.
In February 2026, a mobile team from NGO Girls visited the community where Valentyna lives. During the team’s visit, she sought a legal consultation on preparing the documents required to receive compensation for destroyed housing, confirming the rights of the co-owners, and determining the next steps.
During the consultation, the lawyer analyzed the documents confirming ownership of the apartment, explained the specifics of submitting an application in cases of co-ownership, and helped the family understand all the nuances. The specialist supported Valentyna and her son at every stage: she helped them correctly prepare and complete the application in the Diia app, check the information entered, and submit it to obtain a housing certificate.
Thanks to the legal support they received, Valentyna and her son were able to go through the application process with greater confidence, avoid potential mistakes when preparing the documents, and take a concrete step toward restoring their home. Valentyna gained a clear understanding of her rights and felt confident that, even in difficult circumstances, it is possible to protect one’s own interests through state mechanisms.
“I am grateful for the help and support. It was difficult for me to figure out on my own how to submit the application correctly through Diia. Thanks to the lawyer’s consultation, we were able to complete and submit the application correctly, and now we have more confidence in our ability to restore our home,” Valentyna shares.
A mobile team specialist also highlights the significance of this case: “Valentyna’s case shows how important timely legal support is for people affected by the war. Thanks to comprehensive support, Valentyna received not only practical assistance with preparing the documents but also greater confidence in her next steps.”
Проєкт «Посилення стійкості та добробуту жінок і дівчат, постраждалих від війни в Україні» реалізується ГО “Дівчата” та БФ “Посмішка ЮА” у співпраці з міжнародною неурядовою організацією Plan International за фінансування Центру кризового реагування та підтримки (СDCS) Міністерства Європи та закордонних справ Франції.
