Thousands of Ukrainian refugees face homelessness this winter as people who opened up their homes battle the cost-of-living crisis.
More than a quarter of Homes for Ukraine sponsors are set to quit the scheme when their six-month accommodation pledge expires.
That means around 20,000 refugees could find themselves without housing by the end of the year, rising to 50,000 in 2023, campaigners fear.
Since Russia ’s invasion started in February, more than 90,000 refugees have been matched with sponsors. They are paid £350 a month to house them for at least half a year.
But official figures suggest 26% of the nation’s 25,000 hosts have decided against extending the arrangement.
Karen Reeve, 54, and her husband Alan, 56, took in five Ukrainian refugees at their four-bed home in Horndean, Hants, in April.
They said the cost of living had now left them “desperately worried”.
Karen said: “We’ve generously given up our home and of course I’m not going to turf them out, but the government needs to do more to support hosts.
“We’ve got one £350 payment coming in for five people and it won’t be enough to cover our costs if everything keeps going up.
“And when the payments end, then what?
“If I don’t absorb the cost, then I will have to either charge my refugees money to cover the cost of housing them, or they will have to go back to the council.
“The government needs to address the cost of living and they need to address the long-term solution for Ukrainian refugees, which is giving them their own independent living conditions.
“These are families who need to be living in their own homes. At the moment, the government has its head stuck in the sand on this.”
Refugees minister Lord Harrington last month called on the government to double the monthly payments to £700 a month to counter inflation.
But the Treasury is yet to announce any plans for improved support. The Homes For Ukraine website simply asks hosts to consider housing guests “for as long as you can”.
In Southport, Merseyside, retired physicist John Siddle, 72, hosts law student Anastasiia Kozmina and her pharmacist partner Oleksii Danko, both 22.
Reliant on a state pension and a modest company pension, Mr Siddle fears the ‘thank you’ payments will not cover the cost of heating the top floor of the Victorian house where his two guests reside.
He said: “They are both brilliant people and they are entirely welcome here. We get on really well and they are a breath of fresh air. But I would have struggled to pay the bills had it been just me in the house.
“The last thing I want to do is ask them to contribute or tell them they can no longer live here because I cannot afford it.
“Where would they go? They have suffered enough upheaval already.
“There needs to be more support for the thousands of homes who opened their doors out of goodwill.”
More than 125,000 Ukrainians have arrived in the UK under the Ukraine Family Scheme and Homes For Ukraine since they were launched in early March.
But government figures show that, by the end of August, 1,565 Ukrainian households – 1,080 with children – had registered as homeless.
Some councils have put plans in place to offer up council houses to avert a homelessness crisis.
Ulyana Majumder and husband Raj, 29, escaped Ukraine in April to settle in Knutsford, Cheshire.
But the couple, who have two daughters aged eight and five, are facing homelessness after their hosts sold their home and gave them one week to move out.
Ulyana, 25, told her local newspaper: “I feel sad. We don’t know what to do. We don’t have a place to go to. Our home was bombed but now we have a new life with friends.”
Refugee network Positive Action in Housing, has warned of an “impending homelessness” crisis.
Chief executive Robina Qureshi said: “The cost of living is one factor, but the absence of a viable assessment, matching and host management system means a significant number of hosting arrangements end abruptly and suddenly, with hosts feeling the strain and having no support system to extend hosting.
“It is unrealistic to assume that Ukrainian refugees will move on to new accommodation when there are pre-existing housing shortages and homelessness across the country.”
Under Homes for Ukraine, anyone in the UK can volunteer to host refugees in their own home or another property. Charities, businesses and community groups can apply.
Hosts are offered a tax-free payment of £350 a month for up to 12 months. Councils, who have to approve each property, get extra government cash.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said the overwhelming majority of Ukrainians in the UK “are living in private accommodation and settling in well”.
A spokesman said: “We understand the pressures facing families and public services. Sponsors will continue to receive £350 monthly ‘thank you’ payments for up to 12 months.
“We are providing councils with £10,500 funding per person as well as access to a rematching service for the rare cases where this is required.”
