Charities and local authorities have warned that thousands of Ukrainian refugees could become homeless after the UK government quietly reduced ‘thank-you’ payments to host families from £350 to £100 per month. The 70 % funding cut, confirmed on 24 September, comes as the flagship Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme passes its fourth year, having helped 181,000 Ukrainians find safe haven since Russia’s 2022 invasion. With private rents soaring and social housing scarce, many hosts say they cannot afford to continue without the higher subsidy. Refugee councils report a sharp rise in Ukrainians presenting as homeless, while councils fear additional pressure on temporary accommodation budgets already stretched by record asylum costs. The policy shift has mobility ramifications for employers that hired skilled Ukrainians under the Ukraine Extension and Ukraine Worker routes. If refugees lose stable housing, work-readiness and right-to-work documentation may be jeopardised, disrupting assignments and payroll. Some firms are exploring corporate sponsorship of hosting arrangements as part of CSR programmes. Immigration lawyers note that the funding cut coincides with the government’s consultation on merging sponsorship into the wider refugee integration strategy. They urge companies employing Ukrainian nationals to carry out welfare checks and signpost employees to discretionary housing support where needed.
Source: The Guardian
