Councillor to consider payments for East Sussex hosts of Ukrainian refugees

On Wednesday (November 4), Cllr Mark Estcourt, East Sussex County Council lead member for adult social care and families, is set to consider a report for the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Since March 2022, the scheme has offered a visa route for Ukrainian nationals and their families to stay with a UK sponsor.

East Sussex County Council receives government funding to deliver elements of the scheme, including a £350 per month payment for hosts.

Last month, the government announced its intention to reduce the scheme’s funding. From 1 January the payments for hosts will reduce to £100 per month.

In a report to Cllr Estcourt, a council spokesman said: “Given the limited notice, some hosts may end their arrangements.

“This could increase the number of guests who are homeless or need alternative accommodation and increase costs met from the Homes for Ukraine grant held by East Sussex County Council.”

Officers say some hosts have already indicated they may need to end sponsorship arrangements because of the reduction.

The report also identifies the potential for “heightened safeguarding risks” if Ukrainian guests are required to seek alternative housing options at short notice.

These could include exploitation, risks through unsuitable accommodation arrangements and modern slavery concerns, the report says.

To mitigate this impact, Cllr Estcourt is being asked to agree for the council to provide ‘top up’ payments, so all eligible hosts continue to receive £350 each month until 31 March next year.

The “worst case” cost of providing these top-ups (at £250 per month) has been estimated at £93,000. This figure is based on all of the county’s 75 existing hosts continuing to be eligible, as well as new arrivals joining the scheme.

In the report, a spokesman said: “The council could decide not to provide a local top-up. However, feedback already received from hosts indicates that the reduction may cause more hosting arrangements to end.”

The spokesman added: “If hosting arrangements end and guests require temporary accommodation, the resulting costs could exceed the proposed top-up.

“Affordable accommodation is in limited supply in East Sussex, and current temporary accommodation costs can cost £1,000 to £1,500 per week, compared with a host top-up of £250 per month.”

Cllr Estcourt is also being asked to agree for the council to provide a “guarantee that new hosts receive £350 per month for the first six months of hosting”. Officers say this cost can be met through an arrival tariff associated with each new guest.

This tariff funding is currently set at £5,800 per guest, but is set to reduce to £3,300 per guest from 1 January.