A quarter of sponsors of Ukrainians as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme do not want to continue, as many early arrivals near the end of its six-month term, new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows.
Launched in March, it has seen about 75,000 refugees arrive in the UK, with sponsors committing to providing accommodation in their own home for at least six months.
However, there are growing concerns at what will happen as those arrangements approach the end of that time.
The scheme was set up by the government to help those escaping Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and worked alongside the Ukraine Family Scheme – which allowed refugees to join relatives already living in the UK.
But an ONS survey of Homes for Ukraine hosts found 26% now want to quit their sponsorship after six months.
Six out of 10 sponsors said they were happy to accommodate their Ukrainian guests for more than the agreed minimum with almost a quarter saying they would be prepared to continue the arrangement for more than a year.
However, almost all sponsors said they had provided support and help to their guests that went beyond the official arrangement.
The ONS research also found that 18% of those signed up for the scheme were still waiting for guests to move in.
Of those who did not wish to accommodate Ukrainians for more than six months, just under a quarter said their decision was down to the rising cost of living.
Sponsors currently receive £350 a month but the survey found four in 10 might be prepared to host for longer if there was more financial help.
The ONS surveyed all UK adults registered with the scheme as of 7 July, in collaboration with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), with 17,702 people responding.
Recent government figures show 145 placements have ended with Ukrainian refugees finding themselves homeless, 90 because the relationship broke down and 55 where the accommodation was deemed unsuitable before they moved in.
Tim Gibbs, from the ONS, commented: “We see a lot of generosity and goodwill in what hosts report doing for their guests.
“The majority are still hosting and many indicate a willingness to host beyond the initial six months.
“However, we also see the additional work and expense involved in hosting with some saying more or ongoing support would be welcomed.”
This should not be a surprise to anybody. In fact the only surprise is that only 25% of hosts are now tired of the arrangement. This scheme took advantage of people’s generosity and allowed the Government to house refugees on the cheap. With inadequate support many hosts must be finding themselves out of pocket and with inflation and the recession taking hold many maybe can’t afford to continue even if they wanted to. Also the conflict in Ukraine shows no sign of being resolved in the short term, so what was billed as a six month temporary stint to draw hosts in, is nothing of the sort, it could run for years. So there could well be a Ukrainian refugee housing crisis. Local councils can’t accommodate any of them without bumping UK residents off of the housing waiting lists which won’t be a local election winner. The shrinking PRS won’t want to accommodate them either without the Government acting as guarantor for the rent at realistic market rates as there will be no takers at the pathetic LHA rates.
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