Housing Ukranian refugees in Glasgow: can I take a refugee into my home - and process explained

After fierce criticism, the UK government has reviewed its process for accepting Ukrainian refugees and, as of next week, will allow those with passports (and no family connection) to come to the UK.

Speaking earlier this week Ms Patel announced Ukrainians with passports would no longer need to go to a visa application centre to give their biometrics before they came to the UK.

More information on a ‘sponsored’ humanitarian route has been given by Michael Gove.

This route means that people in the UK can open their homes to Ukrainians.

Mr Gove has confirmed that households in the UK who take in Ukrainian refugees will be offered £350 a month.

He also told the BBC’s Sunday Morning programme that the government is looking at using properties from sanctioned Russian oligarchs for ‘humanitarian purposes’ but said there was ‘quite a legal high bar’.

Speaking to Sky News Boris Johnson said that this second visa scheme would mean that "if people want to welcome [refugees] into their own homes, they can do so".

How to help home refugees in Glasgow

The Homes for Ukraine scheme will allow people to nominate a named individual or a family to stay with them rent-free, or in another property, for at least six months.

A website where charities, community groups, households and businesses can express an interest in being a sponsor launches today (Monday 14 March).

Individuals and groups from Ukraine will be matched to accommodation by officials. Refugees who come to the UK via this route will be allowed to stay initially for 12 months and can work, claim benefits and access services.

The Telegraph reports that those offering accommodation will need to agree on a minimum period and show that they meet appropriate standards.

Local authorities will be entitled to more than £10,000 per refugee, with “additional payments” available to support school-age children in the education system.

A Government spokesman said the details of the scheme were being worked on “at pace”.

But there are concerns over how effective this programme will prove. Robina Qureshi, director of Glasgow-based refugee homelessness charity Positive Action in Housing, has branded the scheme a “gimmick” and a “distraction”.

Ms Qureshi said the problem is not a lack of hosts but visa restrictions that remain in place and drive some to desperate measures to reach UK shores.

UK Government accused of ‘dragging its feet’

The move comes as the latest figures from Downing Street say Britain has granted just 957 visas, despite more than 2.1 million people having fled Ukraine, according to UN estimates.

Boris Johnson has come under increasing pressure, including from Kyiv and his own Tory MPs, to rapidly increase the rate of Ukrainians being welcomed into safety in the UK.

Ukrainian ambassador to the UK Vadym Prystaiko previously called for an end to the “bureaucratic red tape” restricting refugees from seeking sanctuary in Britain.

Although the Scottish Refugee Council welcomed the move from the home secretary – if it helps people reach safety faster – the organisation said there was “no time” for people to apply for visas when fleeing a war zone.

Sabir Zazai, the council’s chief executive, said: “We do not understand why the UK Government continues to drag its feet in the midst of such urgent and obvious suffering.

"Ireland brought in a full visa waiver scheme days ago and 27 EU countries have pledged to offer three years temporary protection to people fleeing Ukraine, with no visas required.

"The UK continues to lag behind as an international outlier in its sluggish and meagre response.

“There are people caught up in this conflict who do not have a Ukrainian passport. Other may be struggling for digital access. All will no doubt be living with extreme trauma and under impossibly difficult circumstances. Narrow bureaucratic schemes like the UK’s often fail to offer comprehensive safety to the range of people affected by war.

"The UK Government must respect the UN Refugee Convention and offer safety to people of all nationalities who are forced to flee.”

First minister Nicola Sturgeon said she hoped she would have confirmation over the next couple of days from the UK Government on the opening of the community sponsorship route.

The Scottish Government has put a proposition to Michael Gove, who is overseeing the arrangements, that would allow the Scottish Government, alongside the Scottish Refugee Council and Cosla, to run the scheme in Scotland.

Support people fleeing the devastating conflict in Ukraine: donate to the DEC appeal

Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) charities and their local partners are in Ukraine and in neighbouring countries providing food, water, shelter and medical assistance. Learn more and donate what you can today