Housing advice and support for Homes for Ukraine guests
If guests are leaving or need help finding new accommodation, we ask that they contact our Ukraine response team: ukraineresponse@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
If they wish to rent private accommodation, the council’s housing services can provide advice and support including help with upfront costs of securing a new home where guests do not have the necessary resources. We have recently reviewed and enhanced our offers to private landlords, and this could help a guest to secure a private rented property in an area of their choosing.
What we can offer will depend on the circumstances of each case and guests should contact us. We will then put them in touch with the housing team for a full housing assessment, along with information on how they can look for accommodation tailored to their individual needs. We also have a housing guide with useful help and advice for guests looking for private rented accommodation Housing advice for Ukrainian guests – Dorset Council
Guests and potential Landlords alike can contact us on tel: 01305 221000 or by emailing ukraineresponse@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk for further details.
Support for Homes for Ukraine hosts
We are providing an additional winter payment of up to £1,000 to all Homes for Ukraine hosts, both current and new, and a further £250 per month to hosts continuing to provide refuge for their guests after the initial six-month period.
Homes for Ukraine hosts have been receiving a £350 a month ‘thank you’ payment from the Government since guests started to arrive in Dorset six months ago. The council has agreed to provide additional funds to further support these hosts who are able to continue to offer their homes to Ukrainian refugees.
Cllr Laura Beddow, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Communities and Customer Services said:
“We are pleased to announce this additional support which will enable local hosts to cover their increased cost of living while continuing to provide a safe haven to those Ukrainian refugees who have fled from the horrors of war.
“The council continues to work closely with residents, voluntary and community groups and partner authorities to ensure both hosts and Ukrainian guests receive the support they need.
“This includes putting in place a frontline service including a Ukraine Response Team and additional employees to support our Housing, Early Help and Resettlement Teams to undertake welfare, wellbeing, and accommodation checks, provide wider support to help guests find employment, give advice on housing options to guests when moving on to their own accommodation, and re-match guests to others hosts when they need to move on.”
Using the Homes for Ukraine funding from the government, up to £1,000 will be given per host household. This is to assist with the impact and costs associated with hosting our Ukrainian Guests as well as the impact of the cost-of-living crisis.
Hosts will receive 2 x £500 payments, and these will be made in November 2022 and February 2023. For any hosts whose guests leave before 31 January 2023, they will only get one payment in November 2022. For hosts receiving guests during January 2023, the host will only receive one payment in February 2023.
The additional £250 per month will be provided to current hosts from month seven, up to month twelve of their hosting arrangements. This is in addition to the existing monthly £350 ‘thank you’ payment.
There is no eligibility criteria and the £1000 payment is available to all hosts. Hosts should email ukraineresponse@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk using the subject heading ‘cost of living support’ and this will be classed as their application.
Further information about the Homes for Ukraine scheme and information for current and potential hosts and guests is available on the council website: https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/refugee-programme-in-dorset
Whilst the cost of providing sanctuary etc for our guests is high, it nevertheless is a privilege to be able to help and DC’s support both financial and practical is very much appreciated.