Council chiefs have called for more support to help Ukrainian refugees as a new report estimates 4,000 Ukrainian households in England have been homeless or at risk of homelessness over the last year.
The Government provided safe routes out of Ukraine for more than 161,000 people, through the Homes for Ukraine Scheme and the Ukraine Family Scheme since the Russian invasion one year ago today.
However, a new report from the British Red Cross warns that cost-of-living pressures, barriers to securing private accommodation, and a lack of support for hosts helping people on the Ukraine Family Scheme has left thousands of households facing homelessness.
Almost a third (29%) of the displaced Ukrainians who have come to the UK – around 46,900 people – arrived on the Ukraine Family Scheme. However, the charity found that relatives who are hosting them receive no financial support.
Sponsors through the Homes for Ukraine Scheme have the option of receiving a £350 ‘thank you’ payment per month per household, which increases to £500 after a year. However, this comes ‘too late and won’t always be enough,’ according to the charity.
Many refugees from Ukraine are also struggling to afford or access privately rented housing, even if they are working. This has led to more than 4,000 Ukrainian households homeless or at risk of homelessness in the last year – a 97% increase since October 2022.
Mike Adamson, British Red Cross Chief Executive, said: ‘We should not have a situation where the type of visa you arrived on determines whether or not your host family receives support. This is putting huge pressure on families in the UK who are doing their best to help, especially with rising bills and food costs.
‘Gaps in support and barriers to securing accommodation are also making life hard for Ukrainian families, who are already dealing with the emotional impact of the conflict.’
Responding to the report, Cllr James Jamieson, chairman of the Local Government Association (LGA), said: ‘We are pleased that the Government has been working with the LGA and councils on funding to help reduce homelessness risks, but more detail is urgently needed on the £150m announced in December in light of recent figures on homelessness.
‘We are also concerned that there is no funding beyond the first year for councils and funding for arrivals in 2023 has halved. If numbers increase, we want to work with Government to review funding to ensure all families are helped to find permanent homes, jobs and schools.
‘We also want to work with Government on how to both support existing hosts who have opened up their homes and their lives to Ukrainians and how to encourage new hosts to step forward so families can quickly move on if arrangements come to an end.’
