Concerns as thousands sign up to offer rooms to refugees
A HALIFAX charity which supports refugees has expressed concerns over the Government’s plan for people to offer rooms and homes to people fleeing Ukraine.
A staggering 89,000 people in the UK signed up to host a refugee within the first day of the Homes for Ukraine site going live.
St Augustine’s Centre in Halifax, which helps people seeking refuge, said it has already beginning to get calls from people in Calderdale who are keen to help.
A spokesperson for the charity said: “We welcome quick and effective efforts to find housing
“I just think if we were in that position, I really hope that someone would offer to do that for us.”
for people fleeing Ukraine, but we have concerns about the Homes for Ukraine scheme namely that it fails to give those arriving refugee status, does not account for the complex emotional and mental needs of people fleeing war, and will not work quick enough to give the efficient response needed in this refugee crisis, amongst others. “We continue to call on the Government for a commitment to a resettlement programme and changes to the Nationality and Borders Bill.
“We are already beginning to field calls from kind people in Calderdale offering their homes as places of refuge for people
fleeing Ukraine. We are consulting with the council, Migration Yorkshire and the local Ukrainian community to ensure the appropriate support is available as we learn more.
“We ask anyone interested to contact Migration Yorkshire who are creating a database of people offering accommodation. You can email at admin@
migrationyorkshire.org.uk or call 0113 3788188.
“It is so important that we get this right - in the best, most effective way for both hosts and people fleeing Ukraine.”
Those who have signed up to the scheme in Calderdale include former mayor of the borough and Calderdale Councillor
Dot Foster, and her husband Mick.
They have a spare room at their Pye Nest home - currently being used as Councillor Foster’s office - which they are hoping to give to someone who has fled from the Russian invasion.
Mr Foster said: “You can’t just sit there and observe. You’ve got to do stuff.”
Councillor Foster added: “I just think if we were in that position, I really hope that someone would offer to do that for us.”