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Like all households in North Somerset, families hosting Ukrainian guests are struggling with the cost of living pressures brought by rising food and energy costs. As a result, the council has decided to increase monthly host payments from £350 a month to £550. Households don't need to claim this additional payment – it will be paid automatically approximately every four weeks.
The council has also started offering weekly drop-in sessions in Weston-super-Mare at the Sovereign on the High Street. These sessions are open to Ukrainian guests, host families and anyone wanting more information about the scheme. They run from 10am to 1pm every Wednesday at the new We are Super co-working space in the centre. Family support workers are on hand to help answer questions or signpost to sources of additional support.
The council is also keen to hear from landlords with properties available to rent out in support of the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Cllr Catherine Gibbons, North Somerset Council’s executive member leading on the response to the conflict said: "We anticipate that the longer our Ukrainian guests remain in the UK during the ongoing conflict, the more likely they are to want to live independently and private rented accommodation may be an option.
"We've developed a support package to assist in this transition to new accommodation. If guests can find their own accommodation in the private rented sector and a 12-month tenancy, we are willing to offer them a month's rent up front up to £1,200 and an incentive of up to £1,000 for the landlord to improve the accommodation, particularly for home energy."
Any landlord wishing to offer accommodation to refugees of the Ukrainian crisis, or anyone wanting more information about becoming a host, should email refugeeresettlementteam@n-somerset.gov.uk with details of their offer.
More information about the scheme and the offers is available on the council's website at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/ukraine.