October 22nd 2023.
The Dobrovolskye family have faced hardship and displacement for the second time in a single year. After fleeing their hometown of Zaporozhye in Ukraine when it was invaded by Putin's forces, they moved to Israel in March of 2022. But their new home near the Gaza border was hit by an unexpected attack from Hamas, forcing the family to take shelter in a bomb shelter for hours.
Igor, 56, and his wife Alina, 40, were accompanied by their 15-year-old daughter Sofia and five-year-old son Tihon during the frightening ordeal. According to friend and fellow Ukrainian refugee Maria Artemova-Panasenko, the family had already become very settled in their new country, with their young children even beginning to learn Hebrew.
Unfortunately, the Dobrovolskyes have been forced to flee for a second time, this time to Romania. They are desperately trying to reach the United Kingdom, where they have relatives, in order to finally feel settled again. The family is currently searching for a place to stay while they find a way to the UK.
The UK government has been helping Ukrainian refugees, like the Dobrovolskyes, with the Homes for Ukraine scheme. This scheme is due to end in March of 2023, however, and the National Audit Office has found that many of those it has helped are now at risk of homelessness. The scheme allowed UK households to sponsor a Ukrainian refugee for either £350 in the first year or £500 in the second. Unless sponsors are willing to help these refugees without payments, the NAO warns that they will need other housing solutions.
The Dobrovolskye family are in need of help and support as they try to rebuild their lives for the second time. They are hoping to find a sponsor in the UK to help them find a permanent place to call home.
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