At least 24 cases of homelessness have been confirmed by the Newcastle City Council and there are fears that this number might rise. It is estimated that over 100 refugee households will become homeless in Newcastle over the next few months.
Estimated that over 100 refugee households will become homeless in Newcastle over the next few months.
According to the report to the local authority’s overview and scrutiny committee, four Ukrainian households are currently living in temporary homeless accommodation, with their hosting arrangements terminated “abruptly without prior notice”.
There are also “increased competing demands” for social housing in Newcastle, the council warned, as 78 Your Homes Newcastle tenants have to be moved out because of mould.
The report stated that the increase in hosting arrangements ending for Ukrainian refugees is also due to decisions made by the Home Office:
“The increased demand for accommodation and the increased risk of homelessness coincides with an acceleration of asylum decision making from the Home Office. The impact of which is already being felt with 14 refugee households recently presenting as homeless in one day and a predicted 147 to come in the next few months, through the ‘Streamlined Asylum Process’.”
The council’s refugee and asylum lead, Rowenna Foggie, said the authority was trying to with private landlords to help find new homes for Ukrainians, while acting as their rent guarantor to secure tenancies.
“One of the challenges people face in the private rented market, particularly coming from Ukraine, is being asked for six months’ rent up front or to have a guarantor. That is a significant barrier we are trying to overcome,” she said.
Since Russia attacked Ukraine in 2022, 154 registered hosts in Newcastle have opened their homes to 256 Ukrainians – including 95 children. The current number of hosts accommodating 158 Ukrainians is 86.
154 registered hosts in Newcastle have opened their homes to 256 Ukrainians – including 95 children.
There have been other Ukrainian households who have moved on from their initial arrangements – 32 found new hosts in Newcastle, 15 secured their own homes, 14 returned to Ukraine, three moved elsewhere in the UK, and four are currently in homeless accommodation.
