Hundreds of refugees from Ukraine were homeless in Britain: what happened

Hundreds of Ukrainian families have been left homeless in England after arriving on visas meant to provide them with housing, according to official figures. Writes about it The Guardian.

Photo: Shutterstock

Since the end of February, at least 480 Ukrainian families with children and 180 single adults have turned to organizations that provide assistance to the homeless.

Although the government insists that the Homes for Ukraine programs and family visas will provide refugees with housing, people end up on the street.

By June 3, 145 people were left homeless. Of these, 90 were due to a break in agreements, and another 55 did not settle down due to the fact that housing was not available or was not suitable.

Lauren Scott, chief executive of Refugees at Home, said: “We are disappointed and saddened, but not surprised. Expecting vulnerable, traumatized refugees to rely on the goodwill of strangers they met on Facebook has always been risky.”

“We urgently need a back-up plan to help families whose placement has failed. Across the country, there is no single approach, there is no standard way for Ukrainians to change visa sponsors and there is no single mechanism for moving funding from one person to another, ”Scott notes.

Many local authorities treat Ukrainian families as homeless, rather than trying to find a new sponsor for them by leaving them in hostels and hotels, as was the case with Afghan refugees. Of the 145 unsuccessful Homes for Ukraine placements, only 20 found a new home.

Scott said, "This is a nightmarish situation - the one we hoped to avoid."

On the subject: A hotel with free accommodation for refugees from Ukraine opened in Washington State

Anna, 37, fled Kyiv with her husband and three-year-old son when the war broke out. They arrived in the UK at the end of March after meeting a family of four who lived in a large house in Northampton.

The initially hospitable hosts lost their enthusiasm within a few weeks.

“We didn’t understand what was happening because they were changing their mood very quickly,” Anna said.

Anna and her family were moved to the annex. The owner then stated that he needed a key to her and they agreed if he would warn them before entering, but shortly thereafter he announced that he wants to end his sponsorship.

“They didn’t explain anything to us,” Anna said. They weren't ready to share their home. The owners tried to get rid of us as soon as possible.”

The Refugee Board placed her family at the Travelodge for a few days in one room with no cooking facilities. They had no idea where to go.

“We were desperate and felt that we had no other choice but to return to Ukraine,” she lamented.

Finally, after scouring the internet, they found Refugees at Home, who helped them place them with another family.

They are still frightened by the experience. “We lost our home in Ukraine, and when we arrived here, we thought we were safe, but in reality we were not, and we lost our home for the second time.”

The family visa, which is the longest valid, accounts for 455 homeless applications. In many cases, families desperate to get their relatives out of Ukraine applied for visas, but they never had a place to live.

Enver Solomon, Executive Director of the Refugee Council, said: “It is alarming to see how desperate Ukrainian families who fled the war, survived trauma and grief, arrive here, entrusting their safety into our hands and are left without a roof over their heads.”

“Ukrainian families arriving here need a warm welcome, safe housing and benefits, emotional support and communication. We are concerned that Ukrainians arriving on family visas are facing problems, as not all relatives will have a place or resources to support their family members,” he explained.

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York

Lisa Nandy, an MP, commented: “It is extremely shameful that families who fled Putin's brutal war find themselves in this situation here in the UK. The British were amazingly generous in providing the care and shelter these people (many families with small children) needed and deserved in such dire circumstances."

“But the government has failed miserably in its role. Ministers were warned of the risk of refugees becoming homeless, but were more interested in performing in television studios than doing their job of protecting vulnerable people. The government must urgently develop a plan to find safe homes for these families,” she said.

Claire David Renard, spokesperson for the Local Government Housing Association, commented: “We are currently not receiving data or funding for family visa applicants. Some of these families become homeless upon arrival, but we ask that they be given the opportunity to re-find a sponsor through the Homes for Ukraine program.

“Urgent work is needed on how the service can work with government and society, the religious and volunteer sectors, so that those who offer their homes can quickly find a family in need,” Renard said.

A government spokesman said: “More than 77 Ukrainians have arrived in the UK since the start of the war, and all arrivals have access to benefits and public services, as well as the right to work or study from the day they arrive. The vast majority of people settle in well, but on the rare occasions when families or sponsors are separated, it is the responsibility of local authorities to ensure families are not left homeless.”

Read also on ForumDaily:

Six business ideas that quickly generate income with little investment

Never throw away an old expired passport: when and why this document may be needed

If you had COVID-19, you got immunity from coronavirus for life: new study

Better than humans: which professions will soon be mastered by robots

What to do if a loved one is missing in the USA: useful contacts and resources

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.