Manitoba organization looking for apartments, houses for Ukrainian families
Global News
On top of hotel stays at the Best Western, the province says it will provide refugees with direct financial assistance to support their transition to longer-term accommodations.
Vlad Skripets and Valery Kletynska peruse kitchenware and summer clothes amid mountains of donations available through the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.
The Ukrainian couple who arrived in the city last month is hoping to furnish their newfound downtown Winnipeg apartment with items at UCC’s Main Street location.
“When we are come here, we have just one suitcase for both of us,” Skripets said.
It’s a place they can call their own for a few months, one they found after connecting with someone on Facebook, who is offering it to them free of charge.
“Before we are come here, we didn’t have any friends, family or relatives here,” Skripets told Global News on Monday.
The pair from Zaporizhzhia in southeastern Ukraine organized accommodations independently while awaiting Canadian visa approvals abroad, as did many other refugees already in Manitoba residing with family and friends.
But those who can’t are able to stay at the Best Western by the city’s airport, courtesy of the province, until they find permanent housing — something New Journey Housing is tasked with coordinating.
The organization, which began its work in the last three weeks, has been discussing options with about 30 households so far, New Journey Housing executive director Codi Guenther said.