More money for Hampshire residents hosting Ukrainian families
Monthly payments are being increased
Last updated 29th Sep 2022
Residents in Hampshire hosting Ukrainian guests as part of the Government's Homes for Ukraine Scheme will get more money over the autumn and winter.
Hampshire County Council is to pay households an extra ÂŁ200 for five months starting in October.
County Council Leader, Councillor Rob Humby, said:
“We have seen a hugely positive response from local residents to the plight of the Ukrainian people, with our county welcoming more than 1,100 families as part of the national settlement scheme. Government has set host payments at £350 per accommodation, but we want to go higher than this to reflect both the important contribution Hampshire hosts are making to this significant humanitarian effort, as well as the current challenges many may be facing, in terms of cost of living pressures – we feel this is the fair and right thing to do, particularly over the winter months.”
The new payments will start in October and be funded via the grant paid to upper tier local authorities to support implementation of the Homes for Ukraine scheme locally.
Councillor Humby added:
“County Council teams continue to work extremely hard, alongside Hampshire’s district and borough partner authorities, to ensure those who have arrived, and continue to arrive, receive the support they need. This includes welfare, wellbeing and accommodation checks, the provision of more than 600 school places, free three-month bus passes for arriving guests, as well as advice and assistance to help families connect into local communities and settle into UK life. Collectively over the coming weeks, we will continue our close collaboration to explore further opportunities to support both guests and sponsors involved in the scheme.”
The county of Hampshire has welcomed the third highest number of Ukrainian nationals in England.