The Disasters Emergency Committee predicts that 18 million people will be affected by the escalating conflict in Ukraine, with three million already forced to flea their homes as the war continues.
This page outlines some ways in which we can all help and explains what you need to do if you are planning on being a Homes for Ukraine host.
Donate
You can help people in Ukraine by making a donation to the DEC’s Ukrainian Humanitarian Appeal – they work with many charities, including the British Red Cross, to provide food, water, shelter and healthcare to refugees and displaced families.
Volunteer
Local organisations may also have volunteer opportunities, and invitations to donate clothes and other supplies.
What is Peaks & Plains doing to help with housing?
We are working closely with Local Authorities to ensure that we contribute to any local efforts to provide emergency housing.
We'll update this page with further information when we know more.
Homes for Ukraine
You can also help by welcoming a Ukrainian person or family into your home. The Government’s Homes for Ukraine Scheme supports people to offer a spare room, or separate self-contained accommodation, to Ukrainian refugee(s) for at least six months.
You can find the most up to date information on the Gov.UK website.
Please consider this information carefully before deciding.
Some things to consider before you make this decision
- The size of your home. There are strict guidelines - written into law - on how many people can live in our homes - to make sure that they are not ‘overcrowded’.
- Financial assistance with your rent. Having people living with you, even short-term, could affect any financial help you receive towards your rent or service charges. This could be a payment from your local authority (Housing Benefit) or as part of any Universal Credit payment. Check to see if hosting affect any payments you receive, as you will be expected to make up any difference. You can find further information on the Government’s website relating to hosting and income.
- Other specific arrangements relevant to your home. If in doubt, ask us to check your tenancy agreement.
- Insurance arrangements. Check to see whether any insurance policies on your home or contents could be affected by hosting.
Letting us know
It’s great that you are considering this, and we want to make sure that this is as easy as possible for you to become a host. So that we can consider your request, please complete this form – once we have received your form we will be in touch within two weeks with our decision.
We need this information before we give you the go ahead to host.