A family from the Kramatorsk community is restoring their house after shelling thanks to cash assistance

On the night before the New Year, a family from the Kramatorsk community came under shelling. The epicenter of the explosion was on a neighboring street, however their house was also damaged — part of the roof and the corridor were destroyed. Fortunately, none of the family members were physically injured.

Nataliia lives with her daughter, her husband who has a disability, and her 85-year-old mother. She works and receives the minimum wage. After the shelling, the woman contacted the contact center of the city of Kramatorsk. Specialists promptly recorded the destruction and provided plastic sheeting for urgent repairs.

“We did not reach out to volunteers or humanitarian organizations. Therefore, it was a surprise for me when a few days later I received a call from the NGO ‘Responsible Citizens’. They explained that the local authorities had transferred our case so that we could receive additional cash support. It was worrying, but I trusted them,” Nataliia says.

Due to her health condition and the need to constantly care for her mother, the woman did not have the opportunity to come for registration in person. The team offered a remote format, which allowed the family to submit an application without risks and unnecessary time costs.

“It was the only real opportunity for me, for which I am very grateful,” she adds.

Damage to the roof led to a disruption of the thermal envelope of the house exactly during a period of sharp temperature drop. The family will use the assistance received to restore the roof and eliminate the consequences of the shelling in order to ensure safe and warm living conditions.

Rapid response to the consequences of shelling is one of the key areas of work of the project implemented by the NGO “Responsible Citizens” in partnership with Mercy Corps Ukraine with funding from the Government of the United Kingdom.

Thanks to the referral mechanism through the Cash Working Group, families affected by hostilities can quickly receive cash assistance in the amount of 10,800 hryvnias to restore housing and cover urgent needs.

Timely support is not only about material resources. It is about preserving dignity, stability, and the feeling that in a difficult moment a family is not left alone.