Tens of thousands of refugees have come to live in the country as part of the Homes for Ukraine program, which allows Britons with a free room or home to “fit in” with families or individuals fleeing the Russian invasion. Those who offer to host Ukrainians sign up for a commitment of at least six months. Charities are now warning that refugees may face problems in the next step of renting their home, which could require checks that would be impossible to pass. Opora, a charity supporting Ukrainians who have moved to the UK, reportedly said it had contacted refugees who did not have access to private rentals due to failed reporting checks. A couple from Lviv, Dmytro Chapovski and his wife Polina, told the Guardian that they had difficulty finding a place to rent after moving to the UK as part of the Homes for Ukraine program. Shropshire host Janet Duchesne told the newspaper that twelve rental agents had said the Ukrainian couple “had no chance of leaving the country”. Mr Chapovski told the Guardian he had finally found an agency willing to rent him a property, but then had to show proof of profits and tax history in the UK – which he did not have – after arriving in April – or provide 12 rent months in advance. Stanislav Benes, of the Opora network, is quoted as saying that the government should support landlords in renting out Ukrainians and set up a guarantee scheme for refugees who are at risk of becoming homeless if such measures are not taken. “It will overburden existing resources that are already over-expanding, which means more and more people will start to fall under the cracks,” he told the Guardian. Millions have fled Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion in late February (AFP via Getty) Government figures show that hundreds of Ukrainians – more than 660 households – have already been forced to register as homeless in the UK after arriving under available schemes. Another charity, Mums4Ukraine, warned that delays in host’s “thank you” monthly payment of ευ 350 meant – in the most serious cases – that refugees had to leave. Others have expressed concern about what happens when Ukrainians leave their host families. The war caused millions to be displaced from their homes in Ukraine (Getty) Sophie Delamothe, of the Generation Rent campaign, told the Guardian: “There is so much information you have to provide that people who have just arrived in the country as refugees may not have access to it.” A government spokesman said: “More than 77,200 Ukrainians have arrived in the United Kingdom since Putin’s invasion, and the vast majority live with sponsors or relatives. “We are closely monitoring this situation and will work with the entire government and the landlords to ensure that the Ukrainians receive the assistance they need.” The Independent has a proud campaign history for the rights of the most vulnerable and we first launched our “Welcome Refugees” campaign during the war in Syria in 2015. Now, as we renew our campaign and start this report on In the wake of the unfolding Ukrainian crisis, we call on the government to move faster and faster to secure aid. To learn more about our Refugee Campaign, click here. To sign the application click here. If you would like to donate, click here for our GoFundMe page.
