In the village of Vorzel, Kyiv region, the third phase of the "Ridni Liudy" (Dear People) boarding house was opened — a residential complex for elderly people who were forced to leave their homes due to the war. As of June 22, 2026, 173 people live here. The project is implemented by the Charitable Foundation "To Ukraine With Love," founded by Svitlana Miller, an American of Ukrainian descent, reports UNN.
Details
The story of this project began not with large grants or government decisions — but with the initiative of a 12-year-old boy.
In 2023, Chase Miller, the son of the foundation's founder, decided to raise funds for the construction of one modular house for a large family from Makariv, Kyiv region, which lost its home due to the war. Friends, teachers, local entrepreneurs, and residents of their city in Idaho joined the initiative. They raised more than planned — enough for three houses.
This story received wide resonance in the United States. New donors began to join one after another. The foundation was able to move from individual modular houses to large-scale residential projects — first for families in de-occupied territories, and then for internally displaced persons.
This is how the "Ridni Liudy" boarding house in Vorzel came to be.
Three phases in three years
The first phase of the boarding house opened in 2024 — for 13 residents. In 2025, the second phase began operating, and the number of places increased. On June 22, 2026, the third phase opened: that day, another 56 people were settled into the boarding house. The total number of residents as of this date is 173 people.
Construction continues. After completion in 2027, the boarding house will be designed for 237 residents.
As of June 2026, over 4.3 million US dollars have already been directed to the project's implementation — exclusively from charitable contributions from Americans.
Who lives here
The residents of the boarding house are elderly people aged 70 and older who were forced to leave their homes due to temporary occupation or lived in areas of active hostilities. For most of them, returning home is impossible or dangerous.
On June 22, 2026, a modern professional hot meal center was also opened on the boarding house grounds. From now on, all residents receive three balanced meals a day.
On the territory, residential buildings and apartment-type houses, administrative and utility premises, as well as necessary engineering and transport infrastructure have already been built.
Who is behind this
The initiator and driving force of the project is Svitlana Miller — an American of Ukrainian descent who has lived in the United States for over 20 years. After the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, she founded the charitable organization To Ukraine With Love in Idaho and began raising funds for affected Ukrainians.
The management of the boarding house is carried out by the management company of the Charitable Foundation "To Ukraine With Love," which is an official provider of social services in accordance with the requirements of the current legislation of Ukraine. The institution's activities are carried out in accordance with the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated June 1, 2020, No. 888.