Homes for Ukraine scheme sees tens of thousands sign up to help refugees
18.03.2022 - 15:09
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Concerns have been raised about how the UK’s Homes for Ukraine scheme will function at a practical level as more than 150,000 people registered their interest ahead of its launch on Friday. Under the scheme, refugees will be matched with individuals, charities and other organisations who can provide accommodation for at least six months, without the need to have family ties in Britain.
However, there are growing concerns about red tape, safeguarding and resourcing; one charity fears that the Government is “unleashing chaos” with the scheme and that refugees could die before they are matched with a sponsor and can safely reach the UK. Labour urged the Government to “cut unnecessary paperwork and play an active role in matching sponsors to refugees” as it warned the scheme’s “excessive bureaucracy” could hinder its success.
By Thursday more than 150,000 people in Britain had registered their interest in the scheme, and refugees who have found a sponsor can apply from Friday, WalesOnline reports.
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Robina Qureshi, director of Positive Action in Housing, claimed the scheme is a “smokescreen” and distraction from what really needs to happen, which she says is the removal of the visa requirement for Ukrainians to come to the UK, as other European countries have done.
She accused the Government of putting charitable organisations in an “invidious” position and foisting the scheme on them without prior consultation, adding that she expects just a “trickle” of refugees to arrive through the scheme because they will have to find people to become sponsors while abroad before they can apply, and then make their own
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