Irish officials end state housing for Ukrainian families, leaving many facing homelessness
Ukrainian family Hanna Skachydub and her children were told their state-run hotel accommodation ends on 18 October, with only a month of short-term housing in Kilkenny, forcing a choice between homelessness or returning to war-torn Ukraine.
Hanna Skachydub, 49, and her children have lived in a single room at the Deerpark Hotel, Howth, since arriving from northeast Ukraine four years ago. In July they received a Department of Justice letter stating that their state-supported accommodation will terminate on 18 October 2026, after which they are offered only a 30-day placement in a designated centre in Wallslough, Co Kilkenny, with €107.40 weekly plus a €175 food voucher.
The family cannot meet the €29,432 income threshold for the temporary protection transition scheme, and private-rental markets have been unresponsive, leaving them at risk of homelessness or forced return to conflict-ridden Sumy. The government is ending contracts with 158 private hotels that house more than 4,000 Ukrainians, and the accommodation recognition payment ends in March 2027, prompting fears of a “compassion fatigue” among policymakers. Brian Killoran of the Ukraine Civil Society Forum warns that many Ukrainians may seek asylum or be compelled to go back, while officials say rent supplements may be available for private rentals.
