Have posted before about the failure if the Ukrainian Housing Scheme in the UK and we are involved with supporting Ukrainian Refugees in and around Stafford so no surprise or apology for drawing attention to this article on the Guardian site.
Six (6) months was a reasonable start point BUT it was soon very obvious that the war in Ukraine was not going to be over quickly so WHY has the Government not done something already to sort this problem out?
“We can’t say to the Ukrainian government that we’re standing with them if we’re not adequately caring for women and children who are here,”
Krish Kandiah founder of Sanctuary Foundation
Original Article
Ukrainian refugees and their hosts have delivered a petition to Downing Street signed by more than 4,500 people calling on the government to provide housing support for those struggling or unable to find independent accommodation.
Krish Kandiah, the founder of Sanctuary Foundation, the charity behind the petition, was accompanied by Ukrainian refugees including nine-year-old Danylo from Kyiv, who knocked on 10 Downing Street to deliver the petition on Tuesday.
The petition comes as more than 100,000 people have become guests of British families under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. But as many six-month hosting arrangements come to an end, Ukrainians are struggling to find accommodation in the social housing and private rental sectors, a situation compounded by the cost of living crisis.
“We can’t say to the Ukrainian government that we’re standing with them if we’re not adequately caring for women and children who are here,” said Kandiah, who is one of many hosts who together have provided accommodation for more than 10,000 refugees, calling on the government to “meet the compassion of the public” with practical solutions.
The petition asks the government for clarity on the rematching and rehosting process, to make local authorities guarantors for rental properties and consider increasing the monthly “thank you” payment given to hosts, among other considerations.