Council buys homes for refugees

A COUNCIL is to use government funds to buy homes for Ukrainian refugees as 8,000 locals wait for a council house.

Wiltshire council has said it will buy houses to lease to Ukrainians, to avoid homelessness as six-month stays with UK hosts end. Other local authorities are said to be considering similar plans.

It follows fears that up to a quarter of hosts may pull out of the Homes for Ukraine scheme living costs rises. About 1,000 Ukrainians in England and Wales have been made homeless.

Richard Clewer, Wiltshire council’s leader, said it will use funds “in an innovative way, to purchase homes” for Ukraine nationals. Currently, 879 refugees are living in 377 Wiltshire homes.

The council was given £5.9million this year for the refugees and it has spent £1.1 million. The funds will be put into Stone Circle Housing Company– created by the council to buy housing for county residents – which will buy houses and lease them to Ukrainians.