Ukrainians on a cruise ship in Glasgow are set to be rehomed across Scotland when the ship's contract ends in two weeks.
The Scottish Government is "working intensively" with Glasgow City Council to find homes for all 1200 refugees living on MS Ambition with the ship's contract ending on March 31. But a housing shortage in Glasgow means there are not enough homes in the city to accommodate all of those onboard reports Glasgow Live.
The Ukrainians are believed to be receiving help to make "an informed decision" about their new homes, with the government saying they will attempt to find housing that "meets their needs".
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The M/S Ambition was a temporary measure to ensure Scotland could respond to the humanitarian crisis facing people in Ukraine and provide an immediate place of safety for displaced people.
“The Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council are working intensively to support guests on board MS Ambition to make an informed decision about their onward accommodation. Where possible we will seek to match people to accommodation that meets their needs but recognise that there are housing pressures within the Glasgow area.
“Everyone on board will be made an offer of onward accommodation and will have access to the support they need to build a home in Scotland for as long as they need it.”
Glasgow City Council leader Susan has previously confirmed will not be able to house all the refugees.
She said: "Given the scale of demand for accommodation and the Scottish wide nature of the Super Sponsor Scheme it is likely that Ukrainian Displaced Persons will be required to locate to other local authority areas.
"All available practical assistance will be provided to assist these moves minimising disruption as much as possible however Glasgow will not be in a position to provide settled accommodation to all UDP currently residing on MS Ambition or those currently residing temporarily in hotels."
She added: "I can also advise that Glasgow continues to experience a serious shortfall in available housing association properties placing further pressure on our homeless population and in this regard, it remains unlikely that those residing on the ship will secure settled housing association properties following their disembarkation from the ship on the 31 March 2023.
“Glasgow HSCP staff are actively working with a number of Local Authorities to facilitate offers of move-on accommodation including offers of hosting arrangements throughout Scotland.”
The British Red Cross has also expressed concern for the impact on people's health from living on the ship.
They say some people have been on board for as long as seven months.
They stated that it would be better for people to live in communities, offering more opportunities where they can integrate into neighbourhoods and access work, schools, healthcare and other services.
A Glasgow City Council spokesman stated "it was never anticipated that all of the families on Ambition would be housed in the city".
They said: “Welcoming displaced Ukrainian people and matching them with homes and hosts has always been a nationwide project. Glasgow is part of that, but it was never anticipated that all of the families on Ambition would be housed in the city.”
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