"Councils work incredibly hard to support asylum and resettlement and have helped communities welcome around 200,000 Ukrainian refugees since the start of the war two years ago."
Responding to the Government's announcement of a new Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme, Cllr Roger Gough, Asylum, Refugee and Migration spokesperson for the LGA said:
“Councils work incredibly hard to support asylum and resettlement and have helped communities welcome around 200,000 Ukrainian refugees since the start of the war two years ago.
“However, the pressures of multiple asylum and resettlement schemes are still being compounded by chronic housing shortages. This has resulted in a high number of Ukrainians and refugees leaving asylum accommodation having to present as homeless.
“The Government’s announcement of a visa extension is a positive step, providing much needed certainty to Ukrainians. But as the visa schemes were designed to provide temporary sanctuary, the funding arrangements for councils to support arrivals need urgent review as councils continue to provide crucial longer-term support, including integration and housing support as sponsorship arrangements come to an end.”