Correspondence

Email to hosts: information on the Homes for Ukraine programme

Published 1 March 2023

Dear Host,

Thanks to you – and the extraordinary generosity of tens of thousands of households like yours in all parts of the country – over 110,000 Ukrainian guests are now safe in the United Kingdom, having arrived under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. We know hosting people who arrived as strangers, and are now hopefully becoming friends, is a huge imposition. And we are so grateful to you and to your families for doing it, and for the sacrifices we know it entails.

The sheer number of applicants and the number of families across the United Kingdom willing to open their homes to those seeking shelter is extraordinary. We are proud that we have been able to work together with councils, charities, the devolved administrations and other partners to make this scheme the success we believe it is – one of the fastest growing and biggest visa schemes in our history. The true heroes though are you, the sponsors, and above all the people of Ukraine.

The UK will continue to stand firm with Ukraine. The government remains committed to providing support to those fleeing conflict and to helping you, as an essential part of that support system.

As we approach the first anniversary of the Homes for Ukraine scheme, I am writing today to set out the detail of a few further updates that we recently announced. As ever, full details of the scheme and answers to many questions are available on gov.​uk here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/homes-for-ukraine-sponsor-guides

If you live in Wales, the Welsh Government has also updated its guidance for hosts and sponsors (https://gov.wales/homes-ukraine-guidance-sponsors).

The Scottish Government’s website provides guidance for hosts in Scotland here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/ukraine-super-sponsor-scheme-guidance-for-hosts/ including the role and expectations of hosts in supporting guests and how hosts can access further support.

If you live in Northern Ireland, further guidance is available at https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/

Changes to ‘thank you’ payments

We know hosting is a very significant commitment. Without the generosity and sacrifices of sponsors like you, we simply would not have been able to give shelter to so many people in need. We know that sponsors are motivated by philanthropy and kindness, but we also have made ‘thank you’ payments available to sponsors to help cover additional costs.

In recognition of the generosity of our sponsors, and because we know so many sponsors were telling us that they were keen to continue sponsoring beyond the previous twelve-month limit, we can now confirm that that you will be able to keep receiving a ‘thank you’ payment for up to two years from when a guest first arrived in the UK.

We have also announced an increase in the level of ‘thank you’ payments for guests in their second year in the UK, from £350 to £500 per month.

Many of you had told us that this additional recognition would help you continue to host, or that it would encourage new hosts to consider offering a home to a Ukrainian individual or family, including by re-matching with guests already in the UK who need a new sponsor.

We know things are difficult for many families and, while you should not be charging your guests rent, you may decide to ask them to contribute something reasonable towards household bills. All Ukrainians arriving under Homes for Ukraine are eligible to work here and have the right to receive benefits while they are in the UK.

If you would like to host another guest

If your current hosting arrangement is coming to an end or has already ended and you would like to continue hosting then please contact your council. You can also record your interest in becoming a host online in England and Northern Ireland via https://www.gov.uk/register-interest-homes-ukraine in Scotland via: https://ukrainehostoffers.service.gov.scot/ or if you live in Wales via https://gov.wales/offerhome. If you ‘rematch’ to host another guest or a new family, you will be eligible to claim ‘thank you’ payments.

If you wish to stop hosting

While we know many sponsors are keen to continue hosting, we also know this is not possible for everyone. If you are not able to continue hosting, we encourage you to give your guests and your councils as much notice as possible, ideally two months. Please also support your guests to develop a plan for how they will move on.

For those in England, or who wish to rent in England, the government has published some information for Ukrainian guests who wish to rent accommodation privately. Please share this information with your guests: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/942503/6.6642_MHCLG_How_to_Rent_v5.pdf

There’s also guidance for Ukrainians living in Wales available from the Welsh Government: https://rentsmart.gov.wales/Uploads/Downloads/00/00/00/02/DownloadFileEN_FILE/RSW-Tenants-Guide-Disclaimer.pdf

If you live in Scotland, the Scottish Government’s New Scots Welcome, available in Ukrainian provides information about housing options including renting: https://www.gov.scot/publications/welcome-pack-new-scots/pages/3/ Further information can also be found at: https://www.mygov.scot/browse/housing-local-services/renting-property

If you are in Northern Ireland, your guests can find out more about renting and social housing at https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/

If your guests are ready to rent but are facing challenges, they should contact the council to understand what support is available in your area. Dedicated contacts for those living in Northern Ireland are provided below.

All Ukrainians who arrived under Homes for Ukraine can also be ‘rematched’ with a new host, if their original sponsorship must come to an end. If you know anyone who might be interested in hosting, please encourage them to contact their local council. You may be able to help your guests to rematch with a new host, for example through someone that you already know, through local faith groups, schools, community groups, or charities. Guests already here can move to a new council area for a rematch.

Please inform your council if your guest has found a new host or if they have returned to Ukraine or left the UK for a period over four weeks. This is important as it may have implications for the thank you payments you receive. And if you have concerns about your guests’ future accommodation and safety, please contact your council and ask for help.

For those living in Northern Ireland

If you are living in Northern Ireland, the appropriate contacts are:

• if you have concerns about your guest’s future accommodation or safety: DPUkrainesupport@finance-ni.gov.uk
• if you need to stop hosting: RAScommunications@executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk
• if your guest has found a new host: DPUkrainesupport@finance-ni.gov.uk
• if you would like to be considered for ‘rematching’ to host again: DPUkrainesupport@finance-ni.gov.uk

More guidance is available via https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/

Fostering

As someone who has expressed an interest in, or who has generously opened their home to a Ukrainian guest, we wanted to highlight wider opportunities to provide care to children and young people in need of support including British children needing fostering or unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a registered foster carer or supported lodgings provider, please contact your local fostering service.

Thank you

Once again, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to you. While nations across the world work to support Ukraine, the people of the UK have stood together to support its displaced people and offer them a safe, secure welcome on these shores.

Michael Gove

Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities