Families housing Ukrainian refugees concerned for funding

Questions raised over support when the scheme ends

Families in West Devon who are providing homes for Ukrainians refugees are being left in the dark about what support they will continue to receive as the Homes for Ukraine scheme reaches its six-month mark.  

The government scheme was launched in March to help local people host families fleeing the conflict within their own homes for a minimum period of six months.

West Devon Borough Council (WDBC) raised the issue at a Hub Committee meeting on Tuesday, 27 September.

Members discussed the support given to the 139 Ukrainians from 51 families being supported by the scheme and noted the progress the Council has made under the scheme.

The future of the scheme is also a concern of the refugee council who, in a statement, said: “We are extremely concerned about the growing number of Ukrainian families who have fallen into homelessness under both the Ukraine family scheme, and Homes for Ukraine scheme especially as we approach the end of the initial six months hosting period under the Homes for Ukraine scheme where we may see yet more families at risk if their hosts are unable to extend their hosting arrangements.

“The government must urgently give sufficient attention to both Homes for Ukraine, and the Family Visa scheme to review and ensure they are fit for purpose.

“Local authorities must receive the same level of funding for people arriving under the Ukraine Family Scheme as is available under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.”

The committee also agreed for the the council’s leader to write to the minister for refugees urgently seeking clarity on the future of the scheme and request a more permanent solution.

But the UK is currently without a minister responsible for refugees after the resignation of Lord Harrington in early September.

The Tory peer said his work was “essentially complete” and the role was always meant to be temporary.

But the Refugee Council said it was concerned about Lord Harrington’s comment.

Chief executive of the refugee council, Enver Solomon, said: “I think it’s surprising that he feels the job is done. 

“We’ve got thousands of Afghans in hotels, and we’ve got much work to do on ensuring that Ukrainians are not left homeless after the six-month point where hosts can ask them to move on.

“We welcomed the creation of a minister for refugees. And there’s still much to be done by a minister taking the lead on providing a joined-up approach to housing and the integration policy for refugees. Not having a minister for refugees would be a step backward – it would be a big gap in government.”

Ukrainian refugees who have arrived through the scheme are disproportionately living in rural areas across the UK such as West Devon, rather than urban centres.    

Under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, each individual arriving attracts a funding allocation of £10,500. 

Devon County Council has retained £4,200 of this money with the remaining £6,300 available to district authorities to fund activity to support the scheme. 

The first of the placements organised in West Devon will come to an end within the next week and, although hosts are able to receive a “thank you” payment for 12 months, there are some hosts who are unable to continue beyond the six months. 

There has been no further advice from central government on what options may be available; leaving many Ukrainian families and their hosts in the dark.