We have produced a Homes for Ukraine Welcome Pack with more detailed information on healthcare and dentists, education, financial support, travelling around Hart, local services and leisure activities.
Homes for Ukraine scheme
Information for guests and sponsors on the Government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme in Hart
We continue to support hosts and guests under the government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme by working in partnership with Hampshire County Council, Hart Voluntary Action and other partners.
We have a dedicated officer who ensures our Ukrainian guests have the ongoing support they need to find sanctuary and build their lives here. Ongoing support is also available for our generous hosts who have helped house Ukrainian guests.
Information for guests
We aim to provide a safe haven for Ukrainians escaping the war, allowing you to live, work and study in the UK while accessing public services.
Welcome pack
UK government advice
The UK Government has a dedicated website for Home for Ukraine guests or those looking to apply. Follow the below links to find out more:
- Apply to the Homes for Ukraine Scheme
- Accessing benefits and essential services in the UK
- Finding a job in the UK
- Childcare and education in the UK
View all UK government guidance: www.gov.uk/government/collections/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-guests
Hart is in the county of Hampshire and Hampshire County Council have also issued some guidance on their website: www.hants.gov.uk/community/ukraine/guests
Hart District Council guidance
Our primary focus is integrating our Ukrainian guests into our community and becoming more self-sufficient in private rental housing and local employment.
Working in partnership with Hart Voluntary Action, these are some of the things we can help you with:
- attending house viewings with you or help with talking to letting agents
- supporting in case of a breakdown with your host
- funding to help with security deposits (on a case-by-case basis)
- support with finding work and learning new skills
- liaising with other support organisations such as Hampshire County Council and Hart Voluntary Action
To contact our dedicated Homes for Ukraine Officer, email: hdchomesforukraine@hart.gov.uk
Housing advice
Rematching
The Homes for Ukraine team will first try to rematch guests with new sponsors in the Hart area. We'll encourage an informal meeting with any potential new sponsor and the family. In the short term, this is the most likely way of finding new accommodation. Please contact us at hdchomesforukraine@hart.gov.uk
Renting
The next solution available to families will be to rent accommodation within the private sector. Most landlords require a five-week deposit and one month's rent in advance. This can vary significantly according to the terms that each individual landlord or estate agent will accept. Some landlords may require at least six months’ rent in advance. Others may only accept a family who are working and/or have a guarantor. The Homes for Ukraine team can work with the family and potential landlords.
Benefits
To see if a family would be entitled to any benefits when renting in the private sector, go to www.entitledto.co.uk, to go through a calculation.
Choose 'Tenant - Private sector' when working out entitlements. You'll need to use an estimated rental figure if a specific property has not yet been found.
Budgets
Once you know what the family household income would be, including wages, benefits, child benefit etc, it is important to work out an estimated expenditure when renting in the private sector. The household expenditure should include all priority bills such as rent, Council Tax, utilities bills, food shopping, clothing, mobile phones and all other regular expenses within the household.
Budget calculators are available to work out estimated expenses such as the one below. There are also many others available online.
Budget Planner: how to manage your money
Saving for a deposit
While families are still living with sponsors, it may be a good time to save towards a deposit and rent for a move into the private sector. As most rental properties are unfurnished with the exception of some white goods (fridge freezer, oven) this should be taken into account when planning a household’s options for moving on.
If accommodation is found in the private sector, but some financial assistance is required to secure the accommodation, we can work with families on a case-by-case basis to see how we are able to help.
The government has put together a:
Financial support
The Government has created a website explaining options for people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.
It includes information about Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, Pension Credit and other potential sources of financial assistance.
Language support
Learning the English language
English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) courses are often available free. The following are some providers that offer free courses:
- Online Future Learn English Courses (select free option) for a wide choice of options and levels: www.futurelearn.com/subjects/language-courses/learn-english
- ESOL online courses focused on specific areas such as English for work, learning English through songs, vocabulary etc: www.esolcourses.com/
Online knowledge base
Volunteers and hosts have set up an online knowledge base and blog for guests and hosts in Ukrainian and English.
Online directory
It can be daunting not knowing what’s available or where to turn to when you’re new to Hart. That’s why we’ve put them all together in one place: The Here for Hart Directory.
You’ll find lots of places for activities, advice and support locally, such as:
- activities for children
- sport and fitness locations
- advice on older adults and disabilities
- mental health counselling or advice
Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE)
The Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme is a further 18-month extension to stay in the UK. It is free to apply.
You will need to apply for the UPE if:
- you hold a Homes for Ukraine, Ukraine Family or Ukraine Extension visa
- it is 28 days or less before your current visa expires
- you are in the UK and intend to stay (do not travel while your application is being processed) and
- you have been living in the UK (and Islands) since you were granted, or arrived in the UK, with permission under the Ukraine Schemes.
Some important points to note:
- The Ukraine Extension visa has now closed, the UPE is now the extension visa to apply for.
- it’s important to apply before your current visa expires. You can check this in your UKVI account.
- applications can take eight weeks to be processed. Provided you applied before your visa was due to expire, then you will be entitled to the same rights to work, rent and benefits while your application is being processed.
Information is available online via the UK Government website with some important links below:
Further useful information can be found on the Ukraine Refugee Extension Scheme website
Information for sponsors
Thank you for your interest and support. Thanks to our hosts in Hart, we’ve been able to provide a safe haven for Ukrainians escaping the war.
Becoming a sponsor (host)
Being a sponsor can be rewarding and there is support available for hosts as well as guests. There is also a £350 per month ‘thank you’ payment to cover additional costs associated with hosting (paid by Hampshire County Council).
The following links may be of use, but we encourage you to contact our dedicated officer to answer any questions you have - email hdchomesforukraine@hart.gov.uk
- Things you need to consider before hosting
- Thank you payments
- Eligibility and checks
- Matching with a guest using recognised providers
For all information, visit: www.gov.uk/government/collections/homes-for-ukraine-sponsor-guides
Additionally, Hampshire County Council – who carry out all the checks and registration of hosts - have also published guidance on becoming a host: www.hants.gov.uk/community/ukraine/sponsors
Guidance for existing sponsors (hosts)
Our focus is to support Ukrainian guests to become self-sufficient in private rental and local employment, although there is occasionally a need for rematching and new guests arriving.
We have a dedicated Homes for Ukraine Officer who can help with things such as:
- Support for hosts to apply for financial support and benefits
- Helping with next steps to move your guests on
- Supporting hosts with complex cases and breakdowns
- Supporting your guests to integrate into our community
Contact us on: hdchomesforukraine@hart.gov.uk
Supporting your guest
There is lots of information out there to help your guests settle and integrate into the UK. Here are some of our top picks:
- We have created a Homes for Ukraine Welcome Pack
- Ukraine Refugee Help website: https://ukrainianrefugeehelp.co.uk
- Here for Hart Directory: www.hereforhartdirectory.org.uk
- Gov.uk information: www.gov.uk/government/collections/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-guests