An Ottawa organization has helped 75 Ukrainian families settle in Canada
Posted Sep 21, 2022 10:15:00 AM.
An Ottawa organization is helping Ukrainian refugees settle in their new country.
Kostya Khomutov, founder of Ukraine to Canada, was born in Ukraine, 50 kilometres from the border and moved to Canada as a teenager, he told The Sam Laprade Show on Sept. 20.
After Russia invaded his birthplace, he joined forces with local entrepreneurs to help people fleeing the country.
So far, they've helped 75 families settle in Canada, and he soon expects an influx of more people as the cold winter arrives in Ukraine.
Partners, including The Jewish Family Services in Ottawa, are helping out financially and with securing apartments for the newcomers. He added that their “phenomenal” group of volunteers has stepped up to meet people at the airport, provide transportation and necessities, and often become good friends with the people they've helped.
“It just been phenomenal how kind and supportive Canadian people are,” he said, adding that it reinforces his belief that there are good people out there.
However, he said the news coverage of the war has diminished despite the country still being under attack, and incomprehensible brutalities continue.
“Many countries and people are starting to forget, and the support is starting to go away. So it is very important for us to keep it top of mind that there are still a lot of people that are in need of help,” he said, adding that one of the main obstacles newcomers face is housing.
“So if anybody's willing to help open up their doors for just a few weeks, maybe a month, or as long as they can to help Ukrainians settle and find their way around, that's a number one huge help is housing,” he said.
The other issue is finding jobs, and he said anyone looking for highly skilled and educated employees should reach out to them.
He said his organization would help support as many people as possible and donations can be given on their website.
Listen to the full interview with Kostya Khomutov below:
