We are extremely grateful to all residents who’ve opened their homes to Ukrainians fleeing the war in their home country.
So far 300 hosts have offered a safe haven to over 560 Ukrainian guests as a part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
Many of our guests arrived during the early stages of the scheme in Spring 2022 and are nearing the end of their time with their hosts.
We’re urgently seeking new hosts to aid with rematching and housing Ukrainian individuals and families.
Guests already settled here usually need less support from their hosts than someone who has just arrived in the UK. Many have already found work and are settled into their local area.
Housing a guest from Ukraine is not only a very gratifying experience for the host but also a fantastic way to help guests settle into the way of life here in Brighton & Hove, to make new friends and support their independence.
A survey we conducted with Ukrainian guests late last year identified the help of a host as one of the most positive factors Ukrainians experienced upon their arrival.
Two of our hosting pairings feature in a short film we’ve created to share their uplifting stories.
Suzanne, a host for over a year, is very enthusiastic about her involvement in the scheme.
“I would absolutely encourage everyone out there, if you have the space and you also have a family around you that are all up for the same thing, to host someone from Ukraine.”
Ulya, Suzanne’s guest, feels as if she found a second family with her host.
“Home for me is in Ukraine, and I really miss Ukraine, but it's very lovely to have this family and just be here.
“They're most amazing people I've ever met. They easily made me feel like I'm the part of the family.”
Sander, an artist from Ukraine, has been able to find safety and work in his chosen field thanks to the scheme and his host Martin.
“The war is not only about bombs, it's also about economics and safety overall and human rights that are in complete pause right now.
“You really couldn't find any smallest corner in Ukraine to hide and feel completely safe, especially if you have experience with depression or mental health or you're not a very typical person.
“As I moved to Brighton it really surprised me with how colourful it is and how I can feel safe and free, because I always felt a bit too colourful or too different for my own hometown.
“I don't think I ever in my life had such a peaceful and warm atmosphere and I really feel like I'm at home.”
Martin, Sander’s host, also considers hosting a rewarding experience.
“One of the best things is hearing about different cultures. I've been to a lot of places in Europe but never Ukraine, so it's really good to hear what it's like and just the small details of everyday life in a different country.
“Obviously, Sander's been through a huge amount of trauma and so rather than just somewhere just to sleep, we're trying to make him really feel at home and he's certainly starting to live a real life in the UK.
“There was a little bit of paperwork to get through, but the help that we got from various people in the council was really useful.
“So, I’d definitely recommend it, it's a really good thing to do.”
If you have one or more spare rooms or a self-contained property you can offer for at least 6 months, we'd love to hear from you.
You’ll receive a monthly thank you payment and support from our Ukrainian Response team.
To find out more about becoming a host visit our supporting the Ukrainian humanitarian web pages.
