UK Cuts Homes for Ukraine Host Payments by 70 Percent

The Government of the United Kingdom is significantly reducing funding for the Homes for Ukraine scheme, cutting monthly thank you payments to hosts from £350 to £100. According to a September 15 statement from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, contributions to local authorities will also decrease from £5,900 to £3,300 per arrival.

These changes take effect on January 1, 2027. The government has provided over £1.81bn for the program since the February 2022 Russian invasion, supporting 181,000 of the 234,000 Ukrainians who sought sanctuary in the UK.

Officials suggest that hosts may offset the loss by switching to landlord status and charging refugees rent. However, the funding cuts have sparked fears among Ukrainian refugees that their hosts may no longer be able to support them, which could potentially lead to homelessness.