Dear all,
Firstly, thank you to those who took part in the Homes for Ukraine Scheme webinar on Tuesday 8 November. As promised, we have summarised the key discussions from the meeting, providing answers to questions and the various links that were shared during the session.
If you have any further questions, please contact hfuteam@gloucestershire.gov.uk.
Many thanks again for all of the support that you are providing, and please do not hesitate to get in touch with the Homes for Ukraine team if you have any questions or require further support.
Best wishes,
Homes for Ukraine team
We are here to help you
A small reminder that the Homes for Ukraine email hfuteam@gloucestershire.gov.uk should be used as your first point of contact for all enquiries and updates.
General comments
There are now more than 1300 Ukrainian guests in Gloucestershire, being supported by more than 530 hosts. The Homes for Ukraine Scheme and partners supporting Ukrainian guests across the county want to thank all sponsors for everything that you have done to support Ukrainian guests in Gloucestershire. Sponsors have gone above and beyond to provide safe and settled homes for Ukrainians and the scheme simply would not run without your generosity.
As sponsors, you have kindly agreed to provide accommodation to Ukrainian guests for a minimum of six months. The Homes for Ukraine team encourage sponsors to continue with this sponsorship arrangement for a full twelve months where possible. However, we recognise that this isn’t always possible and that people’s circumstances change. In these situations, the Homes for Ukraine team work with partners across the districts to find new sponsors for guests and arrange rematches where appropriate. Wherever possible we aim to enable all Ukrainian guests to remain in the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
Accessing longer-term housing
As mentioned above, we encourage guests to remain living with their existing sponsors wherever possible or to stay in the scheme by living with rematched sponsors. However, there are some guests who may be in a position to move to more independent living. The private rental sector is challenging, and we are conscious that some Ukrainian guests may experience difficulties challenges with navigating the system such as providing a guarantor or passing a credit check. However, there are Ukrainian guests who have successfully moved into their own privately rented accommodation and the Homes for Ukraine team are here to help with this.
One of the challenges facing guests when moving into privately rented accommodation, will be the financial commitment of paying rent. However, when renting privately, help is available. The amount of housing benefit and housing element of Universal Credit that can be accessed, is worked out by the Local Housing Allowance (LHA). Further information on Local Housing Allowance is available from Shelter: Local housing allowance (LHA) for private renters - Shelter England. Guests should also be encouraged to visit the local job centre who can advise on benefits.
If your guest is eligible for Universal Credit, they can get help paying for housing. A benefits calculator can be used by guests to check what they could be entitled to: Benefits calculators - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Further information is available on the government website: Housing costs and Universal Credit: Renting from a private landlord - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Once the twelve-month period for hosting has finished, sponsors may wish to consider converting from their current hosting arrangements to the “Rent a Room Scheme”. More detail is available on the government website regarding the Rent a Room scheme: Rent a room in your home: The Rent a Room Scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Shelter also provide general advice about lodging: Lodgers - Shelter England.
Please contact the Homes for Ukraine team hfuteam@gloucestershire.gov.uk if you have any general questions or if support is required to translate documents.
If you have specific questions about the private rental sector or the Rent a Room scheme, please email your local authority housing team. Contact details for each of these teams are as follows:
Payments
The ‘thank you’ payments that sponsors are receiving are made monthly in arrears and will continue throughout the time that sponsors are hosting guests.
Gloucestershire County Council has announced additional funding for sponsors, above the standard £350 “thank you” payment. Sponsors who have offered to continue to provide accommodation beyond the first six months will receive an additional £100 per month for months seven to twelve of their hosting arrangements. In addition, the council will be offering all sponsors £375 per household (split into three payments of £125, for the months of November and December 2022 and January 2023) to help towards their energy costs. This will be paid to every sponsor in the county, regardless of how long they have been hosting their guests.
There are differences around the UK for payments guests and hosts can receive because these decisions are made at a local level and not by central government. Gloucestershire was one of the first areas to recognise and act on host feedback that the rising cost of living would impact on their ability to be part of the scheme. We are currently exploring additional options for support, in response to feedback and suggestions received. We need to make sure these are sustainable and right for our local sponsors and guests.
English language classes
To enable our Ukrainian guests to gain more independence we want to make sure there is sufficient access to improving their English language skills. The Homes for Ukraine team have therefore compiled a comprehensive list of the English language classes available across the county, including online options. Please visit this updated webpage to view information online.
Transport
We acknowledge that public transport can be a challenge in Gloucestershire, particularly in rural areas and in evenings. If you live in the Forest of Dean or Cotswolds, a new bus service – The Robin – may be a option. Further information can be found on the following link: The Robin - Gloucestershire County Council
Useful information
Email - hfuteam@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Sponsors Information Pack
Frequently asked questions
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