Winter payment support for homes for Ukraine hosts

Households across Derbyshire hosting refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine will receive additional monthly payments to help them continue to support their guests through the winter months.

Host households will receive an extra £350 a month to help with rising living costs from November through to March 2023.

Leader of Derbyshire County Council Councillor Barry Lewis said: “We know that increased living costs are putting household budgets under strain and we want to make sure that our host families can continue to provide safe and supportive homes for their Ukrainian guests.

“We’re extremely grateful to host families for opening up their homes to refugees and this extra payment recognises the additional costs associated with doing so compared to in March this year when the Government launched the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

“We hope this will mean that more host families can continue to accommodate those who have fled the war in Ukraine.”

The extra payments will be made using Government funding provided to the county council to operate the Homes for Ukraine scheme in Derbyshire and will be in addition to the existing £350 thank you payment that hosts receive each month to help to pay for things like household bills and food.

Currently, there are known to be around 1,200 Ukrainian refugees living with Derbyshire hosts but more host households are needed.

The Derbyshire Resettlement Partnership, which includes Derbyshire County Council, local district and borough councils and a range of other public sector agencies and charitable organisations all working together, is particularly interested in hearing from people who may have already expressed an interest to offer accommodation to Ukrainian nationals but have yet to be matched with a guest.

New hosts are being sought for a range of reasons including to help support Ukrainian guests whose original accommodation hasn’t worked out, or where their original hosts have had changes to their personal circumstances meaning they are unable to continue to offer the use of their home. In addition, as more visa applications are approved with arrivals looking to make Derbyshire their temporary home, further hosts are needed to help meet demand.

Prospective hosts need to be able to offer accommodation for a minimum of six months and should expect to provide a basic level of support including welcoming their guests to the local area and helping with tasks such as registering with a GP, accessing local and public services and opening a bank account.

An emergency payment of £200 is made available to guests by the county council upon notification of arrival in Derbyshire.

Councillor Lewis added: “We’re calling on those who offered their support initially but weren’t matched with a guest, as well as residents who were not in a position to help earlier in the year but whose circumstances have since changed, to get in touch if they are able to offer accommodation. We recognise that circumstances change for both hosts and guests and our Homes for Ukraine team is on hand to answer any questions from those interested in supporting the scheme.” 

The Government’s Homes for Ukraine ‘Sponsor Guidance’ which can be found online at www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-sponsor-guidance outlines important information and things to think about before signing up to the scheme. Local information is also available on the county council’s website at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/UkraineHosts 

You can find out more about the Government scheme at www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-scheme-frequently-asked-questions

If you think you could commit to hosting, please contact UkraineHosts @ derbyshire.gov.uk

Anyone who would like to offer support other than accommodation should email ukrainesupport @ derbyshire.gov.uk