Andy Munns
A local organisation supporting Ukrainians in the local community is calling for more help with housing in Wiltshire.
Recently the team at the Salisbury Community Hub for Ukraine organised a meeting with seven other voluntary Hubs in Wiltshire, Dorset and Hampshire. Richard Clewer, Leader for Wiltshire Council and representatives from the New Forest District Council, were also present – the session celebrated the Hubs’ work and brainstormed the challenges faced. Top of the agenda was the accommodation shortage.
As Ukrainian families reach the end of their initial six months stay, many are looking to remain in the same location, mainly because of jobs and schooling but also because they have built up their own local community.
The Salisbury Hub is appealing for anyone not hosting to make a room or two available so that these individuals, couples and families can remain in their current area.
Jane Ebel from the Hub says, “We would be hugely grateful for any offers of respite or emergency care, for when people have to leave quite suddenly and the Council is not able to find them alternative accommodation. The offer of temporary hotel accommodation is a last resort, used only if Ukrainians will be street homeless, so we have to explore other options”.
Wiltshire Council is communicating other options, but as Jane highlights, emergency situations arise almost daily, and volunteers from the Hub are taking up the strain and homing Ukrainians at speed using the networks they have built up.
The Council’s proposals include using the housing company, Stone Circle, to purchase up to 100 homes which it can then lease back to Ukrainians for at least three years.
There is also the WiltsLet Deposit Scheme, where the Council will pay the deposit and rent in advance to help secure a private let – this has been available in the county for some time to help prevent temporary homelessness.
Mayor of Salisbury Tom Corbin, supporting the Hub, says, “It is great to hear that Wiltshire Council will utilise its housing company, Stone Circle, to find solutions to provide decent homes for the Ukrainians we have welcomed into Wiltshire, which will also help in the longer-term help fix Wiltshire Council’s shortage of housing. This is sure to take time. For more immediate action, I join in with the call out from the Salisbury Community Hub for Ukraine for anyone to come forward who initially signed up to the Homes for Ukraine Scheme but didn’t end up with a family or single person to go back to the Council and confirm with them that you are still prepared to assist and make things happen!”.
If any householder in Salisbury, Downton, Amesbury or Durrington (or indeed further afield), feels they can step into the breach and take on a family or single person, even for a short amount of time, then please do come forward and get in touch with the Hub on 07341 141632 or email admin@salisburyukrainehub.org.uk or contact Wiltshire Council direct via H4U@wiltshire.gov.uk
The Hub hopes landlords with available properties not currently on the rental market will think about returning them to the housing stock to help.
The Government also runs a Rent a Room in Your Home Scheme, which allows a furnished room to be let to a lodger tax-free up to a sum of £7,500 per annum, which could also prove an attractive option for some.
