Homelessness Rises Among Ukraine Families In England

The number of Ukrainian families who are presenting as homeless to English councils has increased by 22 per cent ina single month, leading local authorities to demand urgent solutions” from government.

- Holly Bancroft

Some 1,915 Ukrainian households who are homeless or at risk of homelessness have turned to local authorities for help since 24 February, with 350 families seeking help in the past month alone.

Charities have warned that the problem will escalate in the coming months” as Homes for Ukraine sponsor arrangements come to an end.

The Local Government Association, the national representative body for councils, said that they were deeply concerned” about the growing number of Ukrainians presenting as homeless. In particular, the significant rise in the number of those who arrived through the Homes for Ukraine scheme,” Cllr James Jamieson, chairman of the association, said.

The Homes for Ukraine scheme was launched on 14 March, meaning that the first refugees to arrive in the UK reached the initial six-month mark last month. Twenty-five per cent of sponsors said they only wanted to provide accommodation for six months or less, according to an ONS survey of 17,702 hosts.

More than two-thirds 69 per cent) of the Ukrainian households who have presented as homeless have dependent children, according to data from the Department of Levelling Up.