The Government has launched a third scheme to help Ukrainian refugees flee the Russian invasion.
Tens of thousands of refugees will be eligible under the new sponsorship route, which will allow Britons to open their homes to those seeking sanctuary from the war.
It comes as the Government has been condemned for the speed and scale of its efforts to bring fleeing Ukrainians to the UK.
The Homes for Ukraine scheme will be open from Monday and Michael Gove – the minister in charge of the scheme – has said the Government expects to welcome the first Ukrainians under the new route from the week commencing 21 March.
“The crisis in Ukraine has sent shock waves across the world as hundreds of thousands of innocent people have been forced to flee their homes, leaving everything they know and love behind,” he said.
“The UK stands behind Ukraine in their darkest hour and the British public understand the need to get as many people to safety as quickly as we can.
“I urge people across the country to join the national effort and offer support to our Ukrainian friends. Together we can give a safe home to those who so desperately need it.”
Here i takes a look at what the scheme entails, how to apply and what safeguarding measures will be put in place.
How will the Homes for Ukraine scheme work?
The new humanitarian route will allow individuals, charities, community groups and businesses to bring people fleeing the war to safety – even if they have no ties to the UK.
Britons will be able to nominate a named Ukrainian individual or family to stay with them in their home, or offer a separate property for them to use rent-free.
People sponsoring refugees through the new uncapped route will be required to commit to the scheme for a minimum of six months, but are encouraged to keep up the offer for as long as they can.
As a “thank you”, sponsors will receive payments of £350 per month.
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Local authorities will be given just over £10,000 per Ukrainian who is accepted on the scheme.
Additional payments will be provided to school-aged children and those arriving under the scheme will have access to full NHS care and be entitled to work in the UK, Mr Gove has said.
The Government said it is also working to enable communities, the voluntary sector and charitable and religious organisations to sponsor groups of Ukrainians.
“We want to make sure that every available bed that we have in this country that can be made available, every available home that can be made available, to those who are fleeing persecution, is mobilised, and we know that there a large number of people in this country, generous-hearted and in a position to provide homes – and businesses and charities as well,” Mr Gove told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme.
Do you have to know a Ukrainian to house a refugee?
Those offering rooms to refugees have been asked to nominate a Ukrainian individual or family, which suggests a person needs to have ties to a refugee.
However, Mr Gove has said the scheme will not be restricted by this and the Government will match those who offer a home but are not in contact with anyone fleeing Ukraine.
He told Sophy Ridge on Sunday: “People can register their interest on Monday.
“Matching will be taking place from Friday. I would expect that in a week’s time we’ll see the first people coming here under the scheme.”
He said charities could also help to match households willing to provide a room with individuals seeking sanctuary.
There will be no limit on numbers for this scheme.
Will sanctioned individials’ homes be used to house refugees?
Mr Gove said he wants to “explore an option” of using sanctioned individuals’ properties to house Ukrainian refugees.
Asked about reports that he wants to seize Russian oligarchs’ mansions and use them to accommodate people fleeing the war, he told the BBC’s Sunday Morning programme: “I want to explore an option which would allow us to use the homes and properties of sanctioned individuals – as long as they are sanctioned – for humanitarian and other purposes.”
He added: “There’s quite a high legal bar to cross and we’re not talking about permanent confiscation.
“But we are saying: ‘you’re sanctioned, you’re supporting Putin, this home is here, you have no right to use or profit from it – and more than that, while you are not using or profiting from it, if we can use it in order to help others, let’s do that’.”
How will the Government ensure the scheme is safe?
Sufficient checks will be carried out to ensure both the Ukrainian refugees undergo security checks and that those willing to house them are suitable, Mr Gove has said.
He said checks must be taken to ensure people who might be “intent on exploitation” are prevented from “abusing” the Government’s new refugee sponsorship scheme.
“We absolutely do need to make sure, first of all, that the people in Ukraine are who they say they are, so there need to be some security checks there,” he told Sky.
“There’s been understandable concern about the scheme being exploited possibly by criminal elements. So, that’s the first thing.
“Then the second thing is we do need to make sure that people here … are in a position to provide that support, which is why there will need to be security checks as well to make sure that those – and I think it would only ever be a tiny minority, but still – those who might be intent on exploitation can be prevented from abusing the system.”
The safety checks will ensure both parties are safe under the scheme.
The bulk of refugees fleeing Ukraine are women, children and the elderly.
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