Housing As a Site of Belonging: Identity Negotiation Among Female Ukrainian Refugees In Germany

Background and Purpose

Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine has produced a highly feminized displacement, with women and children comprising the majority of refugees in host countries. In Germany, many Ukrainian women arrived without partners and assumed responsibility for caregiving, household organization, and emotional regulation for their families while navigating unfamiliar and often unstable housing systems. Housing is a critical social determinant of health for displaced populations, yet it is frequently treated as a temporary logistical issue rather than as a sustained site of psychosocial stress and identity negotiation. The purpose of this study is to examine how housing conditions shape identity, belonging, and well‑being among female Ukrainian refugees during resettlement. The guiding research question asks: How do female Ukrainian refugees navigate identity and belonging across different housing contexts post‑resettlement, and how do these experiences influence their integration into host communities?

Methods

This qualitative study employed a semi‑structured interview design. In‑depth interviews were conducted with 33 Ukrainian refugee women living in Munich, Germany, between July and September 2024. Participants ranged in age from 20 to 74 and were recruited through community organizations, social service providers, and snowball sampling. The sample included mothers, single parents, caregivers to elderly or disabled relatives, and older women living independently. Interviews explored displacement trajectories, housing experiences, caregiving responsibilities, emotional well‑being, and engagement with services. Interviews were audio‑recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis to identify patterns across narratives related to housing, care, and belonging.

Results

Analysis identified four interrelated processes shaping women’s resettlement experiences: (1) forced and uncertain mobility characterized by loss of control during flight; (2) prolonged housing temporariness marked by overcrowding, surveillance, and extended periods of waiting; (3) intensified gendered caregiving responsibilities that constrained access to employment, language learning, and social services; and (4) a persistent tension between physical safety in Germany and emotional attachment to Ukraine. Stable, private housing emerged as a prerequisite for emotional regulation, family stability, and engagement with integration processes rather than as an outcome of successful resettlement.

Conclusions and Implications

Findings indicate that housing stability plays a foundational role in shaping refugee women’s well‑being, caregiving capacity, and sense of belonging. For social work practice, the study underscores the need for trauma‑informed, gender‑responsive housing interventions and integrated service models that recognize caregiving labor as central to refugee support. Policy implications include addressing prolonged housing temporariness and improving access to stable housing as a prerequisite for successful integration. For social work education and research, the findings highlight the importance of preparing practitioners to address structural housing barriers affecting displaced women and families.