British hosts of Ukrainian refugees have experienced a postcode lottery by receiving monthly “thank you” payments of £350, according to a charity.
Under the Housing for Ukraine scheme, households hosting Ukrainians are entitled to cash for stepping forward. But in some areas, implementation of payments has been slow or delayed.
Rend Platings, chairman of Mums4Ukraine, told Sky News: “In some places payments are made more quickly and efficiently, and in others they are delayed longer.
“It’s a zip code lottery. What we need to see happen is a more humane side to how we’re dealing with all of this.”
Rend Platings, founder of Mums4Ukraine
Ms. Platings added that for some households, late payments have created financial pressures that have had devastating consequences.
She said: “We have seen some more serious cases, where the hosts have simply not been able to make ends meet, they have asked the Ukrainian guests for money and the relationship has broken down, just because of the pressure of the situation.”
“Unfortunately, in some of those cases, the Ukrainian guests have had to leave that accommodation.”
Alex Sadler and his partner have been hosting Natalia and her five-year-old daughter since April.
They experienced a delay in their “thank you” payment which Alex said affected their ability to provide the Ukrainian family with a well-rounded experience.
He told Sky News: “It’s about showing them, I guess, a real welcome to this country and showing them that we’re here to support them.
“I think we weren’t able to do that. We figured we’d show them around, spend money on them, give them a nice life, much better than the one they came from.”
He added that if the payments had not been delayed, Natalia would have been able to start building her independence sooner.
Read more: UN refugee agency expresses concern over risks to women in UK’s Homes for Ukraine scheme
In addition to the subsidy issue, the cost of living crisis has increased financial pressure on both hosts and refugees.
Cherry Hinton Baptist Church in Cambridge is helping to coordinate a food bank.
Coordinator Chris Tanton told Sky News there has been “strong demand”.
He said: “The British have been very good at letting people into their homes in terms of openness and giving them a roof over their heads.
“But that doesn’t mean they can support them at the current cost of living, that doesn’t mean they can continue to feed and clothe them, at the level they deserve, necessarily, so places like this help.”
A spokesman for the Local Government Association, which represents more than 350 councils across England and Wales, said: “Councils continue to work tirelessly to support communities and individuals who have shown great generosity and offered to host those fleeing the war in Ukraine.
“The priority for councils has been to rapidly implement and scale the necessary controls to ensure hosts and their guests are safe and supported.
“Boards are aware that another key task is paying hosts the ‘thank you’ payment.
“Now that government funding and guidance is available, those who take in new arrivals will receive these payments as soon as possible if they haven’t already, including retroactive payments.”
Reference-news.sky.com