Tens of thousands of households across Britain have already registered their interest in housing Ukrainian refugees.
The Homes for Ukraine scheme was launched on Monday.
The first phase will help house Ukrainians known to people in the UK, but in future, it could open up to offer sanctuary to more of those who have fled the country since Russia invaded.
Downing Street says the UK will "welcome as many arrivals as possible, based on the number of sponsors".
Read more: 89,000 apply to house Ukraine refugees
Those who do take in a refugee will be offered a £350 monthly payment.
Interest in the scheme has been so high that the site crashed within minutes of going live on Monday. By the following morning, it was confirmed that almost 89,000 houses have registered.
How the Homes for Ukraine refugee housing scheme works
The Homes for Ukraine scheme to house refugees is open. You can register here.
At first, the scheme will house Ukrainian refugees who have someone in the UK known to them who is willing to house them for at least six months, in a spare room or self-contained accommodation like a flat.
To sponsor a Ukrainian refugee in the scheme's first phase, they must be known to you.
"If you have a named person who you wish to sponsor you should get in contact with them directly and prepare to fill in a visa application with all their details and yours. The visa application will go live on Friday March 18," the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities says.
It adds: "Phase One of the scheme will allow sponsors in the UK to nominate a named Ukrainian or a named Ukrainian family to stay with them in their home or in a separate property."
Each household will be offered £350 a month as a thank you payment, and are expected to home a refugee or refugees for at least six months in a spare room or self-contained accommodation.
Those who do not know a Ukrainian refugee to sponsor can still register their interest, ahead of the next phase.
"Named individuals can offer residential rooms or unoccupied self-contained residential units to a specific person or people, and charities, NGOs may be able to help you to make contact with a named person," Homes for Ukraine's website says.
"In the future we will work to help organisations to also sponsor individuals, but we are starting the first phase of the scheme with named individual contacts.
Each applicant is asked to commit to sponsoring a refugee's housing for at least six months. The refugees will be issued with three-year visas that allow them to work and give them the right to claim benefits.
How do I find a Ukrainian refugee to sponsor?
If you would like to house a Ukrainian, but do not know one to sponsor, the Government suggests making contact with charities and NGOs that can make connections between Ukrainians and potential sponsors.
The Government says : "We know our charities, faith groups, universities will have extensive networks with communities and individuals across Europe. We will be working closely with all of them to ensure people who want to help are matched to people from Ukraine – such as through a charity or social media. We will provide further detail on the support they are able to provide shortly."
Charities that may be able to assist with making connections between refugees and potential sponsors include:
You could also try churches and community groups with links to Ukraine and/or helping refugees in general.
I don't know any Ukrainians to sponsor, can I still help?
Those who are interested in sponsoring a Ukrainian refugee, but do not know any in person, can register interest here.
"They will then be kept updated as the scheme develops," the Government adds.
As mentioned above, you could also contact charities, NGOs, community organisations and religious groups to see if you can help.
Is it £350 per Ukrainian refugee?
No, the monthly payment is £350 per property, so if you house more than one refugee in one home, you will still only be entitled to one £350 per month payment.
This may sound obvious, but sponsors are asked not to charge any rent to refugees housed under the scheme.
"We appreciate people’s generosity and do know that there will be costs associated with helping out, and so we are offering an optional ‘thank you’ payment of £350 per month to people who can accommodate one or more household (subject to the accommodation they have).
"The thank you payment is limited to one payment per residential address."
Will I have to pay for food and living expenses for Ukrainian refugees I sponsor?
No, although you can if you wish.
Ukrainians entering the UK under the scheme are awarded a three-year leave to remain visa, which entitles them to work, healthcare, education and benefits.
All sponsors are asked to provide is accommodation, but you can go further if you wish.
"You will not be expected to cover the costs of food and living expenses (although you may wish to offer this philanthropically)," says the Homes for Ukraine website.
Are there safety checks?
Yes, both the sponsor and the refugee will be subject to checks, says the Government
"Those arriving will have met standard security checks. Sponsors will also be subject to checks.
"Those in the sponsoring households will also be subject to security checks and may be subject to safeguarding checks too. Checks may be carried out on a rolling basis.
"Your council will want to check that the accommodation you are offering is appropriate in the circumstances."
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