PAYMENTS to residents hosting Ukrainian nationals as part of the Government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme will continue for a third year, the county council has confirmed.
The payments will continue from Monday, April 1 to the end of March 2025.
Cllr Rob Humby, leader of the council, said: “As our festive season gets underway, we are reminded that the winter temperatures in Ukraine can drop to -20°C, and that sadly the conflict is far from over.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to providing a warm welcome to Ukrainian nationals, and we wish to express our gratitude to, and recognise the generosity of, local people who are providing homes and practical support to those in need.”
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From this date, hosts will receive £500 per month irrespective of how long their guests have been living in the UK. Nationally, the Government is setting payments at £350 per month for those hosts who provide accommodation to guests who have arrived in the country less than 12 months ago, and £500 for hosts of guests who arrived in the UK over 12 months ago.
This winter, the County Council temporarily increased ‘thank you’ payments to all hosts from £500 to £700 a month from October 2023 until March 2024, to reflect the increased cost of living over the winter months.
Funding for host payments comes from the grant paid by Government to upper-tier local authorities to administer the Homes for Ukraine scheme locally. It is ‘ringfenced’ meaning it cannot be used for any purpose other than to support Ukrainian guests needing a safe place to stay, giving guests more time to get ready to move into independent accommodation.
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Since the conflict started, the county of Hampshire has welcomed nearly 3,400 guests, the third highest number of Ukrainian nationals in England.
Cllr Humby continued: “More recently, we have seen a rise in ‘new’ arrivals from the older generation who may be more vulnerable to the harsh winter conditions in Ukraine, and we are therefore urging local residents to come forward if they have a spare room or accommodation that could be suitable as a temporary home.”
"If you think you could become a sponsor and welcome a Ukrainian family into your home, there is comprehensive information about the scheme online, including what to expect and how to register your interest at hants.gov.uk/host.”
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