'The kids don’t realize there is a war': Ukrainian refugee helped by Hamilton company after connecting with The Spectator

When Sandy Tarasenko, her three children, co-worker and friend Victoria Perro fled war-torn Ukraine, they didn't expect to face more adversity in Canada.

Back in March, the group of five took a train to west Ukraine for a week, expecting the war would be over in a few days, but Russia's attack on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant forced them to flee Ukraine. Tarasenko's husband had to stay due to a martial law, which bans 18 to 60 year-old men from leaving the country.

I lived in Kyiv, close to a small airport. I heard bombs dropping and I was scared it would fall on my building, I packed a small suitcase, but I forgot a toothbrush, medication, everything," said Perro.

It was a dangerous journey for the group that fled through Hungary's border, crossing Austria on a bus for refugees and spending 17 days in Vienna.

According to Tarasenko, volunteers in Austria assisted them with documentation and offered Ukrainian refugees a free night at a hostel, but since arriving in Canada with her three children, Evangelina, 11, Lllya, 9, Oskar, 3, and co-worker Perro, their experience has been very different.

They flew from Vienna to Montreal, where Tarasenko said there wasn't any support for refugees at the airport and they spent more than four hours in the immigration centre without any food. We couldn't feed kids, we couldn't even go and buy some soup. We were locked," said Tarasenko.

From Montreal, the group travelled to Hamilton, where they lived with a former co-worker who offered shelter to the family for a few months before they moved to another temporary home.

The kids don't realize there is a war. Moving from country to country was not easy," said Tarasenko. I think they will be too shocked to come back to Ukraine."

Due to the lack of affordable permanent housing in Burlington, the group has been moving between temporary homes offered by friends and Jewish Immigrant Aid Services (JIAS) an agency that helps immigrants and refugees.

I hope we can find a long-term place soon. Every morning, we try to be as quiet as possible. But I have to wash them, brush their teeth and get them dressed. It's not a very quiet process, especially with my boys," said Tarasenko.

After learning of the struggles of Ukrainian refugees in The Spectator, a Hamilton company decided to step in. Dina Colangelo, from Fusion Pharmaceuticals got in touch with a supportive email at a crucial time for Tarasenko.

I read the article on the Tarasenko family and it touched my heart. I honestly think that it was a call," said Colangelo.

The company had raised $2,000 to help a Ukrainian refugee family in need and decided to donate the funds to the group, unaware that the mother of three and Perro were about to lose another temporary home again.

The following week, Colangelo and co-worker Jenny Latucca met at Tarasenko's new temporary home.

We sat on the couch and talked about what life has been like for her since she's come here. I told her how I just came across the article and I knew right then that we needed to help them," said Colangelo. We told her that we'll be friends for life and we'll be here to help in any way we can so that she could reach out to us at any time."

Tarasenko was elated and grateful to receive the funds, which were used to save up for renting a new place and summer clothes for the children. In a way to pay it forward, Tarasenko decided to donate half of the amount to Ukrainian children who lost their families in the war. According to Tarasenko, the donation came when their life was crumbling.

I was very happy because I'm fighting with finding a job for a long time. I have no income. I was very happy. It's very helpful," said Tarasenko.

After the donation, Tarasenko and Colangelo still remain in touch. I text her to check in with her and see how things are going," said Colangelo.

Back in April, Tarasenko was trying to find a house while also looking for a job, a daycare for three-year-old Oskar and school for her nine and 11 year olds. The children are now enrolled in school and Perro works as an administrative assistant.

I have made very good progress because I have subsidies for child care and also before and after (school) program gives me a chance to work," said Tarasenko.

However, a stable life isn't possible without a house.

Tarasenko, the children and Perro had to leave their second temporary home, owned by an Airbnb host, offered for a month free of charge by JIAS.

When asked if she could try to move in permanently into the temporary home, Tarasenko said the house proprietor has no interest in turning the Airbnb into a monthly rental.

Tarasenko and her children, along with Perro, have recently moved to a third temporary home in Burlington. The kids have many friends in the neighbourhood, they are fine. They don't understand all of Mama's problems with housing, with everything, they just say OK, tell Daddy to come to visit us.'"

Amid a housing crisis, Tarasenko's search for a home has been a challenge due to pricing and the children's daycare and school location.

The first problem is in Burlington. There are no houses to rent. There are not many and they are very expensive. Burlington is a very expensive place, said Tarasenko.

Now, Tarasenko has changed her work permit in order to work in early childhood education and found a job in a local school.

Back in Ukraine, Tarasenko's husband is still in Kyiv and her brother is in Odessa. Perro's boyfriend works in territorial defence, a component of the Armed Forces of Ukraine made up of volunteers who have become overnight soldiers.

For more information on what services are available for newcomers in Hamilton go to hamiltonimmigration.ca/find-services

Beatriz Baleeiro is a reporter at The Spectator. bbaleeiro@torstar.ca