Thousands of Ukrainian refugee families in the UK are at risk of homelessness this winter – The Guardian

Thousands of Ukrainian refugee families in the UK are at risk of homelessness this winter.

This was reported by The Guardian.

According to the British Red Cross study, the likelihood of such a scenario for Ukrainians is four times higher than for others. Ukrainians are at risk due to potential breakdowns in relationships with landlords, language barriers, and difficulties in the housing market.

According to the British Red Cross study, this winter, thousands of Ukrainian refugee families are at risk of becoming homeless. The report states that by the end of the current financial year, 6,220 Ukrainian refugee families will seek assistance, which is 13% higher than the 2022-2023 figures. Forecasts suggest that nearly 5,000 of them will face homelessness factors such as sleeping rough, sofa-surfing, and hostel stays.

Researchers found that the risk of homelessness is higher for Ukrainian families in the UK than for others. In 2022-23, a total of 298,430 families sought relevant support, which amounts to 1.24% of all households in England. And this fourfold risk extends across the entire country.

The study is released during a period of increased demand for affordable housing across the UK. Ukrainians are at risk due to potential breakdowns in relationships with landlords, language barriers, and difficulties in the housing market.

Currently, over 192,000 Ukrainians reside in the country under two primary government programs: Homes for Ukraine, where British families host them, and the UkraineFamily Scheme, which allows Ukrainians to join relatives already settled in the UK.

Key recommendations to prevent the homelessness crisis among Ukrainians include several points. These include extending payments to landlords for the third year under the Homes for Ukraine program, originally designed for the first two years only, supporting local authorities in providing rent guarantees and lease schemes to help Ukrainians access the private rental market, and increasing local housing allowances used to calculate appropriate rates in line with market prices.

Victoria, one of the beneficiaries of the British Red Cross, fled Ukraine to the UK under the Homes for Ukraine program with her disabled mother and seven-year-old son. Feeling relief and being safe, they never expected to face the threat of being homeless just six months into their new place.

“I was worried we would end up on the streets and had no idea what to do. Not knowing what’s next is very stressful,” she shared.

This family managed to secure support from the local council and the Red Cross and found rental accommodation, but their problems didn’t end there:

“We are not allowed to apply for citizenship, we work tirelessly, and we have no idea what will happen next. After the pandemic and armed conflict, we want to be able to somehow plan our future.”

Olivia Field, Head of the Information and Legal Department at the British Red Cross, stated:

“This winter, we expect thousands of men, women, and children from Ukraine to be homeless in the UK. British Red Cross staff are increasingly dealing with their requests for help and support in finding long-term housing. Often, they cannot make the initial rent payment and risk exclusion from municipal homelessness programs. We also know that due to the cost-of-living crisis, many host families, who generously opened their doors to those in need, are losing the ability to continue doing so.”