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Resettling Ukrainian Refugees: Cindy’s Story

Resettling Ukrainian Refugees: Cindy's Story

Nova Ukraine’s resettlement team helps pair host families with Ukrainian refugees who are in desperate need of housing – but we desperately need additional hosts to make this program possible.

One successful placement by our team is Cindy and Guy, who agreed to host a mother and daughter in their home. Read their story below.

Cindy’s Story

When the war broke out in Ukraine, my husband Guy and I were so saddened by the plight of the people of Ukraine. We wondered what we could do to help. Then our church announced that there was a need for people to host families who had fled the war and were coming across the border from Mexico. God put it on both of our hearts to volunteer to host a refugee family. We signed up that evening.

Our intent in opening our home was to try and be helpful, but in reality we are the ones who have been unbelievably blessed

Cindy and guy

Olena and Dasha arrived at our home in late April. We were delighted to find that Dasha knew quite a bit of English, so we were able to communicate immediately. We quickly learned that they are both very kind, thankful, thoughtful, smart, and hardworking people. We have spent many hours talking, laughing and sometimes crying with them. They have endured a lot. Their family is scattered. Yet, they continue to persevere and move forward with their lives.

We liked them from the very beginning, but now we have truly grown to love them. They have become like family to us! Our intent in opening our home was to try and be helpful, but in reality we are the ones who have been unbelievably blessed!

Nova Ukraine Emergency Housing

Our emergency housing hotline deals with the most desperate cases. Sign up to host an individual or a family for a few days or a few months.

Donate. Impact. Change.

Jul 7, 2022

Nova Ukraine

Nova Ukraine
Resettling Ukrainian Refugees: Cindy's Story
Jul 7, 2022

Nova Ukraine

Nova Ukraine

Nova Ukraine’s resettlement team helps pair host families with Ukrainian refugees who are in desperate need of housing – but we desperately need additional hosts to make this program possible.

One successful placement by our team is Cindy and Guy, who agreed to host a mother and daughter in their home. Read their story below.

Cindy’s Story

When the war broke out in Ukraine, my husband Guy and I were so saddened by the plight of the people of Ukraine. We wondered what we could do to help. Then our church announced that there was a need for people to host families who had fled the war and were coming across the border from Mexico. God put it on both of our hearts to volunteer to host a refugee family. We signed up that evening.

Our intent in opening our home was to try and be helpful, but in reality we are the ones who have been unbelievably blessed

Cindy and guy

Olena and Dasha arrived at our home in late April. We were delighted to find that Dasha knew quite a bit of English, so we were able to communicate immediately. We quickly learned that they are both very kind, thankful, thoughtful, smart, and hardworking people. We have spent many hours talking, laughing and sometimes crying with them. They have endured a lot. Their family is scattered. Yet, they continue to persevere and move forward with their lives.

We liked them from the very beginning, but now we have truly grown to love them. They have become like family to us! Our intent in opening our home was to try and be helpful, but in reality we are the ones who have been unbelievably blessed!

Nova Ukraine Emergency Housing

Our emergency housing hotline deals with the most desperate cases. Sign up to host an individual or a family for a few days or a few months.

Donate. Impact. Change.

We greatly value your support, and it is indeed crucial. Please consider donating monthly. Your consistent contributions are vital to sustaining our efforts and driving meaningful change over time. Your commitment will make a lasting difference, and we sincerely appreciate your consideration.

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Latest Posts

Aug 20, 2026

Ohio Becomes Fifth US State to Tackle Russia’s Abduction of Ukrainian Children

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) Nova Ukraine applauds the Ohio State Senate for becoming the fifth U.S. state legislature to introduce a resolution condemning Russia’s forced abduction of Ukrainian children. The bipartisan bill (SCR 21) introduced by State Senators Thomas F. Patton (R-Strongsville) and Kent Smith (D-Euclid) “condemns the Russian Federation for the wrongful and illegal abduction, forcible transfer, and subsequent illegal adoption and indoctrination of children from Ukraine.” Ohio joins Maryland, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Wisconsin to take up this issue. To date, only Wisconsin has held a full vote and adopted the resolution. Nova Ukraine Director of Advocacy Aleksandr Krapivkin says:

Nova Ukraine's new Vector of Resilience joint pilot project helps Ukraine's veteran support specialists address burnout and secondary traumatic stress.
Aug 9, 2026

When the Pain Becomes a Part of You

“Nova Ukraine's new Vector of Resilience joint pilot project helps Ukraine's veteran support specialists address burnout and secondary traumatic stress.” The program's first residential trainings, launched by Nova Ukraine and its partners, were recently held in Ukraine's Volyn Oblast. Mariia, a support specialist, almost didn't attend. Leaving the veterans and families she supported for three days filled her with guilt she couldn't shake. She worried about how they would manage without her. But when she found herself among psychologists, social workers, healthcare professionals, and community specialists who shared the same responsibilities, something changed.

A photo of a memory board created by Zmistovno students in Odesa, July 2026
Aug 5, 2026

Newsletter – July, 2026

A photo of a memory board created by Zmistovno students in Odesa, July 2026 Thirty-five years ago, on August 24, Ukraine restored its independence. Today, Ukrainians defend and strengthen it every single day. The United States and Ukraine are separated by geography and history, but united by the belief that people have the right to live freely and determine their own future. In July, Ambassador Erin E. McKee traveled to Odesa and Mykolaiv to meet the people and organizations living that belief: Ukrainians leading recovery in their own communities, supported by partnerships that last.

Aug 20, 2026

Ohio Becomes Fifth US State to Tackle Russia’s Abduction of Ukrainian Children

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) Nova Ukraine applauds the Ohio State Senate for becoming the fifth U.S. state legislature to introduce a resolution condemning Russia’s forced abduction of Ukrainian children. The bipartisan bill (SCR 21) introduced by State Senators Thomas F. Patton (R-Strongsville) and Kent Smith (D-Euclid) “condemns the Russian Federation for the wrongful and illegal abduction, forcible transfer, and subsequent illegal adoption and indoctrination of children from Ukraine.” Ohio joins Maryland, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Wisconsin to take up this issue. To date, only Wisconsin has held a full vote and adopted the resolution. Nova Ukraine Director of Advocacy Aleksandr Krapivkin says:

Nova Ukraine's new Vector of Resilience joint pilot project helps Ukraine's veteran support specialists address burnout and secondary traumatic stress.
Aug 9, 2026

When the Pain Becomes a Part of You

“Nova Ukraine's new Vector of Resilience joint pilot project helps Ukraine's veteran support specialists address burnout and secondary traumatic stress.” The program's first residential trainings, launched by Nova Ukraine and its partners, were recently held in Ukraine's Volyn Oblast. Mariia, a support specialist, almost didn't attend. Leaving the veterans and families she supported for three days filled her with guilt she couldn't shake. She worried about how they would manage without her. But when she found herself among psychologists, social workers, healthcare professionals, and community specialists who shared the same responsibilities, something changed.

A photo of a memory board created by Zmistovno students in Odesa, July 2026
Aug 5, 2026

Newsletter – July, 2026

A photo of a memory board created by Zmistovno students in Odesa, July 2026 Thirty-five years ago, on August 24, Ukraine restored its independence. Today, Ukrainians defend and strengthen it every single day. The United States and Ukraine are separated by geography and history, but united by the belief that people have the right to live freely and determine their own future. In July, Ambassador Erin E. McKee traveled to Odesa and Mykolaiv to meet the people and organizations living that belief: Ukrainians leading recovery in their own communities, supported by partnerships that last.

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