A 39-year-old Ukrainian woman recovering from a debilitating stroke has been moved from a specialized rehabilitation center to a homeless shelter in Poland, following a shift in national legislation regarding social support for refugees.
Viktoria, a refugee from the Kharkiv region, was evicted from a social assistance home in Krosno and transferred to a shelter in Jarosław. The move has stripped her of the specialized medical care and accessibility required for her condition, leaving her to manage her recovery in a shared room without professional rehabilitation facilities.
The transfer is the direct result of a law that took effect on March 5, which gradually limits the scope of social assistance provided to Ukrainian citizens. Under these updated regulations, access to permanent care centers and specialized social support has been restricted, leading local municipalities to stop funding the stays of many refugees in long-term care facilities.
A trajectory of loss and recovery
Viktoria’s journey to Poland began in March 2022. She fled her home in Rohani, in the Kharkiv region, after a Russian shell struck a house directly opposite her own. Initially settling in the village of Dalinowa in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship, the family eventually moved to Krosno to ensure her mother could receive necessary medical treatment.
For a time, Viktoria and her father found stability, working at a cardboard production plant in Korczyn while residing with the Calvarian sisters. However, the family’s stability collapsed over the following two years. In March 2024, Viktoria’s father passed away from brain cancer. A year later, Viktoria suffered a stroke that left all four of her limbs paralyzed.
Despite the severity of the stroke, Viktoria made significant strides through intensive daily therapy. Within four months, she regained the ability to speak, eat, and sit in a wheelchair. This progress was supported by her placement in a social assistance home in Krosno, where she had access to a private room and a structured rehabilitation program.
The impact of policy changes on social assistance in Poland
The transition from a medical environment to a homeless shelter happened abruptly. Staff at the Krosno facility reported being notified on March 3 or 4 that Viktoria could no longer stay. By March 5, the novel legislation was in effect, and the local community ceased payments for her care.
“We found out on March 3 or 4 that Viktoria could no longer stay with us and would be moved to a shelter, and on March 5 the new law came into force, and the community stopped paying for her stay. She cried for two nights. What happened to her is inhuman.”
The current living conditions in Jarosław stand in stark contrast to the care she previously received. Viktoria now resides in a five-person room where she struggles to navigate her wheelchair. With no furniture provided for her belongings, she keeps her possessions in plastic bags stored under her bed.
Despite the lack of professional equipment, Viktoria continues to perform physical exercises daily in an attempt to regain her mobility. Her primary wish is to return to Krosno, not only for the rehabilitation services but to be near her mother, who is currently in a hospice facility there.
Timeline of events for Viktoria
| Date/Period | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| March 2022 | Flees Kharkiv region after shelling | Rohani $rightarrow$ Poland |
| March 2024 | Death of father (brain cancer) | Krosno |
| Early 2025 | Suffers stroke; total limb paralysis | Krosno |
| March 5, 2025 | New social assistance law takes effect | National (Poland) |
| Post-March 5 | Transfer to homeless shelter | Jarosław |
The broader context of Ukrainian refugee support
The shift in Polish policy reflects a broader transition in how the European Union and its member states are managing the long-term presence of millions of Ukrainians. While the initial response in 2022 was characterized by emergency open-door policies, governments are now moving toward “integration” models that emphasize employment and self-sufficiency over direct social subsidies.
However, advocates for refugees argue that this transition fails to account for the most vulnerable populations—specifically the elderly, the chronically ill, and those with sudden-onset disabilities. For individuals like Viktoria, the loss of Ukrainian refugee social assistance in Poland does not simply mean a loss of a benefit, but a cessation of life-critical medical rehabilitation.
The legal framework governing these changes is part of the ongoing amendments to the Special Act for Ukrainian Citizens, which has been modified several times to adjust residency rights and financial aid eligibility.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Individuals seeking assistance with social benefits in Poland should consult with a licensed legal professional or an accredited NGO.
The situation remains fluid as local municipalities determine how to implement the new funding restrictions. The next critical checkpoint will be the upcoming review of social welfare allocations for the next fiscal quarter, which may determine if emergency exceptions can be made for refugees with documented severe disabilities.
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