British public will be asked to open their homes and take in Ukrainian refugees

The British public will soon be able to offer their homes to refugees fleeing the crisis in Ukraine under a new scheme outlined by the government.

According to the Daily Telegraph, a hotline and webpage will be set up to enable individuals, charities, businesses and community groups to offer rooms to those escaping the conflict. 

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove is expected to set out further details of the new ‘sponsored’ humanitarian route to allow Ukrainians without family links to the UK to come to the country on Monday.

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson told Sky News: “On Monday, you’ll get from the Levelling Up Secretary, you’ll get the programme that will allow people to come in, so (if) people want to welcome (refugees) into their own homes, they can do so.”

Refugees who enter through the new route will be allowed to stay for an initial period of twelve months during which they will be entitled to work, claim benefits and access public services.

Officials will reportedly match them with offers of free accommodation from the sponsoring individuals and organisations who will be vetted to ensure it is safe and secure.

Those offering housing would also have to agree to take the refugees for a minimum period – potentially six months – and demonstrate that they meet appropriate standards.

A Government spokesman said the details of the scheme were being worked on ‘at pace’, saying in a statement: “The routes we have put in place follow extensive engagement with Ukrainian partners.

“This is a rapidly moving and complex picture and as the situation develops we will continue to keep our support under constant review.”

This comes after the UK government faced overwhelming criticism for taking in only 1,000 refugees out of the estimated 2.3 million who fled following Russia’s invasion of the country last month.

The British Red Cross has said the quickest way of fixing the problem would be to remove the UK’s requirement for a visa, while the Refugee Council said the government’s announcement ‘does not go anywhere near far enough’.