Ukrainians in UK fear cut to funds for Homes for Ukraine hosts could make them homeless

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Published: 2026-09-24T15:55:35.846Z • Permanent link

Fears are mounting among Ukrainians in the UK that the government's decision to cut funding for the Homes for Ukraine scheme could leave thousands of host families without a safety net. The scheme, launched in 2022, provided £350 per month to individuals and families who opened their homes to Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion. However, in a move that has been described as a "stealthy" reduction, the funding will decrease to £100 per month next year. The UK government has maintained that the cut is necessary to ensure the sustainability of the scheme, but many host families are concerned that it will not be enough to cover their costs.

Diana Radchenko, a Ukrainian woman who has been hosting a family of four in her home in London for the past year, expressed her fears about the impact of the funding cut. "I've been doing this out of the goodness of my heart, but now I'm worried that I won't be able to continue," she said. "I've already spent £10,000 on food, clothes, and other essentials for my guests, and I don't know how I'll be able to afford to continue without the £350 per month." Radchenko's concerns are echoed by many other host families, who are concerned that the reduced funding will force them to turn away Ukrainian refugees or find alternative accommodations that are not as welcoming.

New data from the Homes for Ukraine scheme reveals that over 10,000 host families have been registered so far, with thousands more expected to join in the coming months. However, the government's decision to cut funding is likely to have a disproportionate impact on host families from lower-income backgrounds, who may struggle to make ends meet on the reduced amount. The UK government has announced that it will provide additional support to host families, including a one-off payment of £500, but many are concerned that this will not be enough to cover their costs.

Professionals in the Data Sources domain are concerned that the funding cut will have a significant impact on the research and analysis of Ukrainian refugees in the UK. Many researchers rely on the Homes for Ukraine scheme as a valuable source of data on the experiences of Ukrainian refugees, and the reduced funding could limit their ability to collect and analyze this data. The UK's Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) has already expressed concerns about the impact of the funding cut on research into Ukrainian refugees, and many researchers are worried that the reduced funding will limit their ability to conduct high-quality research.

The funding cut also has implications for the broader market, as many companies that provide services to host families, such as furniture retailers and homeware stores, rely on the Homes for Ukraine scheme as a key source of business. The reduced funding could lead to a decline in demand for these services, which could have a significant impact on the businesses that rely on them. The UK government has announced that it will provide additional support to host families, including a one-off payment of £500, but many are concerned that this will not be enough to cover their costs.

The funding cut for the Homes for Ukraine scheme is part of a broader pattern of cuts to social welfare programs in the UK, which has been described as a "stealthy" reduction in public spending. The UK government has announced a range of cuts to social welfare programs, including the reduction in funding for the Homes for Ukraine scheme, as part of its efforts to reduce the national debt. However, many critics argue that these cuts will have a disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations, such as Ukrainian refugees and host families.