The Ukrainian Habitat Fund (UHF) is a 501(c)(3) organization founded to provide housing and support services for Ukrainians coming to the United States seeking refuge due to the ongoing full-scale war.

The Fund enables access to safe and affordable housing for displaced families and works with a network of partners to provide mental health support, education, and job opportunities.

UHF also provides housing for wounded Ukrainian heroes and civilians who arrived to the United States to receive prosthetics, rehabilitation, and additional medical care.

We aspire to provide the critical support that will allow for healing and a successful future to Ukrainians in their time of greatest need.

Meet the Board

  • ROBERT PERL

    ROBERT PERL

    Co-President

    Robert is an entrepreneur and a Lower East Side community member since 1988. Currently he is President of Tower Brokerage, and board president of Howl Arts Inc. Robert is also a board member of Rosie’s Theater Kids.

  • TOM BIRCHARD

    TOM BIRCHARD

    Co-President

    Tom is an owner of Veselka since 1975, a Ukrainian restaurant located in the heart of East Village. He was born in Williamsburg, PA and grew up in Pennsauken, NJ. Tom attended Rutgers University, graduating in 1969 with a degree in business administration. He is also an author of “The Veselka Cookbook”.

  • LIDIYA OROS

    LIDIYA OROS

    Co-Founder, Vice President

    Born and raised in the Carpathian region of Western Ukraine, Lidiya moved to the United States in 2000. She is the Co-Founder of Oros Team Real Estate (under CCR) specializing in real estate investment, portfolio management, leasing, and sales since 2010. In 2015, alongside her sister Gabriella as a duet, she became a Nationally awarded Ukrainian singer who represented Ukraine in various concerts, competitions, and festivals across Europe.

  • GABRIELLA OROS

    GABRIELLA OROS

    Co-Founder, Vice President

    Born and raised in the Carpathian region of Western Ukraine, Gabriella moved to the United States in 2000. She is the Co-Founder of Oros Team Real Estate (under CCR ) specializing in real estate investment, portfolio management, leasing, and sales since 2010. In 2015, alongside her sister Lidiya as a duet, she became a Nationally awarded Ukrainian singer who represented Ukraine in various concerts, competitions, and festivals across Europe.

  • Paul Ostling

    Paul Ostling

    Treasurer

    Experienced CEO, COO, Chairman and public company board member, with a demonstrated history of working in global and international organizations.

  • Kate Kalmykov

    Kate Kalmykov

    Legal Counsel

    Kate Co-Chairs the Immigration & Compliance Practice at Greenberg Traurig. She focuses her practice on business immigration and compliance.

  • JASON BIRCHARD

    JASON BIRCHARD

    New York City-raised and a graduate of SUNY Albany, Jason has been working at Veselka since he was a teenager. Upon graduation in 1989, he was instrumental in opening Veselka up to 24 hours in 1991. In 2000 he stepped into the role of handling daily operations. Today he continues to oversee all aspects and is always searching for new ventures to expose Veselka.

MEET OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEE

  • Alisha Mikluch

    Alisha Mikluch

    Marketing /PR Director of Ukrainian Habitat Fund

  • Jules Slutsky

    Jules Slutsky

    Communications Director of Ukrainian Habitat Fund

  • SNOWHILL

    Snow Hill is an international investor relations & strategic communications advisory.

  • Tom Mikluch

  • Rene A. Sosa

  • POLLY MOSENDZ

    POLLY MOSENDZ

  • Irena Karanetz, MD

    Irena Karanetz, MD

  • Lesya Kyrpenko

    UHF Ambassador

  • Olga Sakhno

    Olga Sakhno

    UHF Ambassador

  • Anna Olitskaya

    Anna Olitskaya

    UHF Ambassador

Meet the volunteers

  • Maryna A

    Photographer

  • Lana P

  • Iryna M

  • Vlada G

  • Diana

OUR PARTNERS & SUPPORTERS