Can you provide sanctuary for a Ukrainian guest?

Almost 200 Ukrainian guests have been welcomed to build new lives in our city as part of The Homes for Ukraine Scheme, which launched in Southampton in March of this year.

Thank you to everyone who has shown great warmth, generosity and true Southampton spirit by opening their homes and making people from Ukraine welcome in our communities.

We want to make sure our Ukrainian guests can continue to live here beyond the initial six-month placement period, so we are looking for more homes to house those displaced by the war.

If you have one or more spare bedrooms in your council home and you would like to help, please get in touch. We will check your accommodation is suitable and then match you with a Guest or Guests. We can support you with welfare and safeguarding checks and signpost you to further help from partner organisations across the city. You will receive £350 a month as a thank you payment.

We want to ensure our Ukrainian guests can successfully adjust to a new life in Southampton and so we provide the following support to both hosts and guests:

• Central Library and Gateway staff can direct people to council departments, voluntary organisations, and community groups as appropriate
• Central Library staff can help with applications for food bank vouchers if needed
• Our Stronger Communities Team are out and about across the city supporting Ukrainians in communities and catchment areas
• Resources such as the Welcome to Southampton booklet, which is available in English and Ukrainian at Central Library and Gateway

To find out more please get in touch. If you’re interested in renting out your spare bedroom to a lodger to earn extra cash take a look at our guide in this month’s issue of Tenants’ Link.