Strengthening Housing Stability for Ukrainian Refugees: Insights from the Slovak Workshop
28 February 2026
As part of the SMART UA project, partner countries organised national workshops to reflect on key barriers and solutions related to housing and employment for Ukrainian refugees. These workshops aimed to connect research findings with field experience and to support coordinated, multi-stakeholder responses.
In Slovakia, a national workshop brought together experts, practitioners, public institutions, civil society organisations and Ukrainian students to reflect on housing, integration and psychosocial support for displaced persons. The exchange created space to combine research evidence with practical experience from the field.
Research findings presented by Trnava University and CPPR highlighted key needs and priorities related to housing and integration, drawing on surveys and qualitative insights into the experiences of Ukrainian families. Discussions confirmed that access to stable and affordable housing remains closely linked to broader integration challenges, including mental health, social support and access to services.
Participants identified a range of good practices supporting housing stability and integration, including community-based initiatives, targeted language support, educational assistance for children, and counselling and accompaniment services. Particular attention was given to mental health and psychosocial support, with experts sharing practical approaches to integrating MHPSS into housing and integration work.
Interactive group discussions enabled participants to exchange experiences and jointly reflect on how cooperation between public authorities, civil society organisations, academia and local communities can be strengthened. These exchanges generated valuable insights that contribute to building professional capacity and informing more coordinated housing and integration responses.
By combining research, good practices and multi-sector collaboration, the workshop contributed to SMART UA’s broader objective of strengthening institutional capacity and fostering sustainable, multi-stakeholder approaches to housing and integration for Ukrainian refugees. Lessons emerging from the Slovak context also feed into the project’s transnational learning process.