 We'd like to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to all of our hosts who continue to so generously offer our Ukrainian guests safe refuge.
So far 1800 Ukrainians and 837 hosts have participated in the Homes for Ukraine scheme in East Sussex. This incredible response includes:
- 1500 Ukrainians who have already arrived in East Sussex
- 413 children that have since been offered school places
- 133 Ukrainians who have since moved into the private rented sector
- 154 who have accessed our Support into Work scheme since it launched in November.
Whilst it's been a challenging year for everyone, we could not have supported so many Ukrainians without your help and kindness. Collectively you have already provided safety and shelter for 1500 people fleeing war.
From all of us at East Sussex County Council, thank you and we hope you have a wonderful Christmas.
 A recent announcement from central government has set out plans for Homes for Ukraine in 2023. This update will see a package of further support for hosts who so generously opened their homes to those fleeing war.
In recognition of your ongoing support amidst the rising cost-of-living, all sponsors will receive an increased ‘thank you’ payment of £500 a month for guests who have been in the country for over a year.
‘Thank you’ payments will also be extended from 12 months to 2 years, so that guests who may not yet be ready to move into independent accommodation can stay in sponsorship for longer where sponsors are willing and able to extend arrangements.
In cases where sponsorships can no longer continue, councils in all parts of the UK will receive help to house Ukrainians through a one-off pot of government funding worth £150 million to help mitigate homelessness, as well as a new £500 million Local Authority Housing Fund in England.
This housing £500 million fund will be reserved for councils in England to obtain housing for those fleeing conflicts (including in Ukraine and Afghanistan) and is expected to provide up to 4,000 homes by 2024, reducing the impact of new arrivals on existing housing pressures and eventually providing a new and permanent supply of accommodation for local communities.
We are also asking new potential hosts to come forward and apply to re-match existing guests through the scheme.
For full details on this update, please read the full press notice here 👇
 Over the Christmas and New Year period most services will take a break. We have sent you details of service availability in our previous newsletters, but if you didn't receive this or need access to this information over the holidays, you can find it in the link below.
More details on service availability over the Christmas period can be found here 👇
This newsletter is sent to every host (sponsor) in East Sussex who is part of Homes for Ukraine to keep you updated. You can unsubscribe at any time.
We expect to send you a further update in the New Year.
Until then, we'd like to wish you all a wonderful Christmas.
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