Problems with accessibility at the veterans' office were discovered in Pivdennoukrainsk

The “450” Veterans’ Office in Pivdennoukrainsk currently does not meet accessibility requirements. Specifically, the entrance to the building is not adapted for people with disabilities, and the restroom cannot be modified to comply with the necessary standards.

This information came to light during a meeting of the Pivdennoukrainsk City Council’s standing committee on housing policy, public utilities, property, transportation, and the environment.

The “450” office has been operating in the community since November 2024. According to its representative, two specialists currently work there to support veterans.

At the same time, the current premises have a number of issues. In particular, they lack a proper barrier-free entrance, and the restroom is too small to be retrofitted to meet the needs of people with disabilities.

Because of this, representatives of the veterans’ office have proposed expanding it by incorporating adjacent spaces currently used by the regional center. These spaces, in particular, house a clothing bank and a seamstress’s workshop.

This does not mean discontinuing these social services, but rather finding alternative space for them. The proposal is to combine the vacated space with the veterans’ office to create a single facility with appropriate conditions and barrier-free access.

There is also a financial incentive for this decision. The “Right to Protection” Charitable Foundation has announced a grant competition for 265,000 hryvnias. Representatives of the veterans’ office reported that they have already submitted an application for funding.

However, one of the conditions of the grant program is the availability of a space that meets the established requirements and has the necessary documentation in order. That is why the issue of the space became one of the key topics during the discussion.

A representative of the Veterans’ Office emphasized that the current office is already operational and was set up using grant funds. According to her, 28 items of equipment—a total of 51 pieces—were previously purchased to establish it.

Now, the goal is not simply to maintain the office but to expand it and make it more accessible to veterans, particularly those with disabilities.

At the same time, no final decision was made during the meeting regarding the transfer of the adjacent premises to the Veterans’ Office. Representatives of the office invited the council members to visit the premises in person and familiarize themselves with the issue on site.

Thus, to implement the project, the community must resolve the issue of the premises, ensure their proper legal registration, and ensure they meet accessibility requirements. The ability to secure a grant of 265,000 hryvnias also depends on this.

Андрій Колісніченко