Ukrainian Refugees Become Homeless
Almost 3,000 Ukrainian refugee households who have entered the UK on either the Family or Homes for Ukraine visa schemes have become homeless, reports LGC.
According to the most recent monthly data released by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, 2,985 households have now presented to their local authority as homeless since February 2022. This equates to a rise of more than 300% in the number of Ukrainian refugee households who have become homeless since the data was first released in June 2022. Of the 2,985 Ukrainian refugee households who have presented to their local authority as homeless, 1,720 entered the UK on the Homes for Ukraine scheme, with 1,065 entering on the Family Scheme.
The number of Ukrainian refugee households who had fallen into homelessness was initially higher on the Family Scheme, however, there has been a sharper increase in people becoming homeless after arriving via the Homes for Ukraine scheme. This indicates that more sponsors are leaving the scheme, which could be due to the initial six-month placements drawing to a close. The scheme started in March so September was when the first hosts came to the end of their initial commitment.
LGC previously reported that councils have been topping up payments to hosts on the Homes for Ukraine scheme in order to stop refugees from becoming homeless in light of the cost-of-living crisis. Councils such as Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council and Gloucestershire CC have offered hosts top up payments to keep them on the scheme.
James Jamieson (Con), the chair of the Local Government Association has previously warned that without extra funding that many Ukrainian families may present as homeless “because of a lack of sponsors or other options”. A further 200 households who’s route into the UK is listed as other or unknown have also fallen into homelessness. Around 70% of the 2,985 Ukrainian households have dependent children (2,070), just over 30% are single households (915). The November data shows there are currently 670 households living in temporary accommodation, this is up from 345 in June.
