Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: At least two soldiers killed by anti-tank missile fired at Israeli army forces in the Gaza Strip
Local Syrian sources: Mortar shells fell on more than nine villages in the Sweida countryside
Local Syrian sources: Dozens of dead and wounded have arrived at Sweida hospitals as a result of ongoing clashes at several locations in the western Sweida countryside
Local sources: Civilians, including children and women, were injured in the al-Maqous neighborhood of Sweida, in Syria, as a result of ongoing clashes
Israeli media outlet: Security incident reported in the Gaza Strip
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation

Ukrainian refugees increasingly face homelessness, exploitation in UK

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The Guardian
  • 17 Jul 2024 10:41
5 Min Read

Homelessness was found to be four times as common among Ukrainians than in the general population in the UK.

Listen
  • x
  • A woman waits near a donation box at the celebration for the Ukraine Independence day at a celebration in Chichester, south England, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022.(AP)
    A woman waits near a donation box at the celebration for the Ukraine Independence Day at a celebration in Chichester, south England, Saturday, August 27, 2022. (AP)

According to the British Red Cross, thousands of Ukrainian refugees who came to the UK in search of safety following Russia's invasion are now at risk of becoming homeless or being exploited there.

While the UK government's programs gave families seeking safety a lifeline, a report by the humanitarian organization discovered that certain Ukrainians encountered vulnerabilities in safeguarding protocols, as well as inadequate training and continuous support for hosts.

Over 9,000 of the approximately 200,000 families living in the UK have been placed at risk of homelessness since the Homes for Ukraine program began in 2022. This is frequently brought on by strained relationships with host families and challenges entering the private housing market.

Homelessness was found to be four times as common among Ukrainians than in the general population. This is exacerbated by the fact that the number of new immigrants from Ukraine increased by 379 each week on average between February and mid-June 2024.

Two ships that were used to house 2,465 people in Glasgow and Edinburgh between July 2022 and July 2023 drew criticism for being unsuitable because they lacked cooking facilities and couldn't accommodate them.

Finding a Safe Home

The British Red Cross report, titled Finding a Safe Home, stated examples including: 

Related News

Red Cross warns of imminent humanitarian collapse in Haiti

ICRC says 2 of its staff members killed in Israeli strike on Gaza home

  • Before finding a place to live, one Ukrainian woman applied to all 65 housing organizations in Glasgow.
  • Some individuals slept rough after being abruptly made homeless by host families. At midnight, a woman was asked to leave and slept on a beach with her possessions.
  • After living in six different places in two years, one woman returned to Ukraine when she was unable to obtain housing in this country, and when the war intensified, she returned to the UK.
  • Three generations of individuals shared a single bed in one household that participated in the family hosting program.
  • One woman who was provided lodging online discovered, upon voluntary organization inspection, that it had been set up for sexual exploitation, complete with video cameras in the bedroom and a lock on the exterior door.

The government should build on the successful practices of the accommodation projects in Ukraine and incorporate the lessons learned into future refugee resettlement plans, according to the Red Cross, which is also requesting improved protection mechanisms for these schemes.

In addition, a national integration policy that encourages more equitable support for all displaced people was called for, in addition to increased assistance for displaced individuals to enter the private rental market and more inexpensive housing.

Read more: UK government abandons Ukrainian refugees, leaves hundreds homeless

Families living unsafe

Sal Copley, the executive director of communications and external affairs at the British Red Cross, explained, “Over two years ago people in Ukraine had their lives turned upside down. They needed our support and compassion, and the UK became a place of safety for many thousands.

Copley added, “However, that safety has not always offered the stability people need to rebuild their lives. Too many families have ended up sleeping rough or living in places where they have felt unsafe. This has had a damaging impact on mental health and wellbeing. We need to improve the support available for Ukrainians here in the UK and learn from the Ukraine schemes so we can create more effective safe routes in the future.”

In response, a UK government spokesperson said, “The UK’s support for Ukraine is ironclad. Homes for Ukraine provides an important route for people seeking sanctuary. We will carefully consider the deeply concerning report and its findings.”

This is not the first time the British Red Cross sends out warning reports on the matter. 

Back in November 2022, it announced the increasing risk of homelessness Ukrainian refugees will have to face as they seek safety in the UK, and away from war. 

In a report cited by The Guardian, conducted by the British Red Cross and Heriot-Watt University, it was forecasted that 6,220 Ukrainian refugee families would be applying for homelessness support by the end of 2023 marking an increase of 13% from the year prior. 

A total of 298,430 families applied for homelessness support the year before, comprising 1.24% of UK households. The Red Cross report found that Ukrainian families were far more likely than others to end up homeless, mainly as a result of the cost of living crisis in the UK.

  • Red Cross
  • Russia
  • exploitation
  • Homelessness
  • United Kingdom
  • Ukraine
  • british red cross

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS