As the conflict in Ukraine rages on, Sky News has spoken to refugees who fled to the UK months in the past and moved in with strangers who’d opened up their houses.
Most are nonetheless staying with those that took them in, however some face having nowhere to reside if they continue to be within the UK.
UK hosts who signed as much as the ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme have been requested to offer lodging to refugees for no less than six months. For many households that timeframe has, or is about to, elapse.
A complete of 94,900 Ukrainians have come to the UK to stick with British households for the reason that conflict started. Hosts could not cost their friends lease, however they’ve acquired month-to-month funds of £350 from the federal government.
Ilona Lemekha was one of many first Ukrainians to reach within the UK underneath the visa scheme in March. She was positioned with Sarah Hedley and her husband and kids in Bedford.
Since her arrival, Ms Lemekha has discovered two jobs, working in an lodge and a restaurant, and she or he’s turn into extraordinarily near the household that gave her a house. She now thinks of Ms Hedley as a mom determine.
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“Oh, to be honest, I’m really lucky with this family. I’m the lucky person,” says Ms Lemekha.
She’s from Dnipro in jap Ukraine and says it is nonetheless too harmful for her to return as Russia continues its assault close by.
Ms Lemekha hasn’t seen her husband in seven months and does not know after they’ll be reunited – she appears like she’s in limbo.
“You understand that you woke up in the morning, and you don’t have any plans except [your] job. I can’t plan. I don’t see my future, not here, and I don’t understand the situation in Ukraine right now,” she says.
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Ms Lemekha desires to seek out someplace within the UK to lease, cautious of overstaying her welcome with the Hedleys. But Ms Hedley says she will keep so long as she wants.
“I think it would actually be really sad when you leave,” Ms Hedley says to Ms Lemekha.
“It’s like she’s family. It’s very, very easy having Ilona stay with us.”
Relationship breakdowns
There are some refugees who can not stay with their hosts long-term or have already needed to transfer out. The charity, Opora, that helps Ukrainian refugees, estimates one in 10 refugees staying in English households have left earlier than their six months have been completed.
Sky News submitted Freedom of Information requests to councils throughout the UK. Those that responded cited relationship breakdowns as the most typical motive for friends to go away, usually mentioning cultural variations and miscommunication. But departures have been additionally attributable to refugees returning to Ukraine.
Louise Higham welcomed Marta Sahaidak and her two sons into her house in West Sussex in May.
The association was solely meant to be non permanent, as Ms Higham and her husband are within the technique of turning into foster carers and want their house again to take care of foster youngsters and earn a residing.
‘No manner I’m going to make her homeless’
‘It’s not in regards to the cash, it is about what we meant to do with our life. Marta has all the time identified this deadline was looming, and now we’re each not sleeping as a result of there isn’t a manner on earth I’m going to make her homeless,” says Ms Higham.
Ms Higham has formed a close bond with Ms Sahaidak and her children.
“It’s a stunning two-way relationship. I’ve learnt a lot about Ukraine, we have prolonged our household. There’s been a lot of advantages, however now we’re crying out for assist,” says Ms Higham.
Ms Sahaidak has a job right here and hopes she will scrape collectively the deposit she’ll have to lease a home, however she’s discovered that landlords are reluctant to lease to refugees.
“I worry because I don’t know what will happen to me and my children,” she says.
They’ve regarded for another person to host Ms Sahaidak’s household in West Sussex, however could not discover anybody with area.
“It does feel like all the responsibility is on our shoulders for their welfare going forward, and that’s quite harsh and actually quite shocking,” says Ms Higham.
Elusive rental market
Charities say the financial local weather is placing strain on hosts and making refugees susceptible.
“We had anticipated the desperation and anxiety caused by the impasse of the current UK housing situation (overheated market, cost of living crisis). The reality has, sadly, been in line with that,” says Stan Beneš, from Opora.
“Guests are mostly in shock because even if they have ticked all the boxes and secured employment, are in receipt of the correct benefits and settled kids in school, the rental market remains elusive to most.
“This is as a result of they usually have restricted or no credit score historical past, lack appropriate guarantors, and missing these are then unable to pay six months’ price of lease up entrance to safe a tenancy,” says Mr Beneš.
Sponsors are ‘our spine’
Most refugees they’ve spoken to, who’ve left their hosts’ houses, have been positioned in inns, he added.
In a press release, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities mentioned: “Sponsors are the backbone of the Homes for Ukraine scheme and represent the very best of British community spirit.
“We are grateful to hosts for the generosity and goodwill they’ve proven over the past six months.
“The majority of sponsors want to continue hosting for longer than six months. When guests do move on, they have a number of options, including entering private rental [accommodation] or finding a new host to sponsor them.
“Councils have an obligation to make sure households usually are not left with no roof over their heads.”
Source: information.sky.com”