Over 300m given to English councils to help house Ukrainian refugees unspent
Briefly

Over 300 million pounds allocated to English councils to assist Ukrainian refugees in finding accommodation remains unspent as thousands face potential homelessness. Within more than three years since Russia invaded Ukraine, councils have mostly utilized funds for staff costs rather than direct support for refugees. Only 22 million pounds has been allocated to temporary housing and 15 million pounds for private accommodation assistance, complicating refugee housing efforts. Research suggests more than 6,400 Ukrainian families may experience homelessness this year, with significant obstacles in accessing rental markets and council support.
More than 300 million pounds allocated to English councils for Ukrainian refugee accommodation remains unspent, while many face homelessness. This funds roughly a third of the one billion pound budget.
Research indicates Ukrainian refugees are over twice as likely as British people to experience homelessness, with estimates suggesting over 6,400 families will face homelessness this year.
Baljeet Nijjhar stated that local councils receive substantial funds per Ukrainian arrival but many guests struggle to access these resources, particularly for private rentals.
Many councils have large reserves of funding yet have assisted very few Ukrainians with their accommodation challenges, highlighting a stark disparity in support provided.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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