HOMEOWNERS in the North East that have signed up to the Homes for Ukraine scheme have expressed their frustration at the government over “letting down” Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war-torn country.
Despite the application process starting for the rehoming project on March 18 and thousands signing up for the scheme – the government has come under fire, both locally and nationally, for their speed in processing Ukrainians hoping to travel to the UK.
According to the latest figures, 3,705 visas have been granted and the trajectory for grants of visas is increasing every day, as of yesterday (March 31) morning.
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However, “more can be done” from government officials and the cabinet in processing requests to find accommodation for Ukrainians, according to those in the North East that have signed up.
Michelle Allison, who lives in High Coniscliffe, near Darlington, applied to the Homes for Ukraine project two weeks ago – hoping to quickly house a family in need.
However, 14 days on from her initial application, the former teacher believes that she’s no further on than she was this time earlier in March.
Despite ‘finding’ a family to move over to the UK – 37-year-old mother Tetiana and two daughters Vikoriia, 17 and Yevheniia, 14 – the Ukrainian family remain over the border in Poland and Mrs Allison remains feeling “helpless” in the UK after “shambolic” decisions from the government.
As part of the rehoming process, the North East homeowner has pulled out all of the stops by finding accommodation for Tetiana’s sister, Okstana, and her 14-uyear-old son, Stanislav, who will be living nearby in Low Coniscliffe.
Mrs Allison said: “This is now day ten of waiting for the government and local authorities to make a move and sort the situation – I’m no further forwards.
“I’m in a state of despair. I just want to help where I can, and to be denied this opportunity, it’s awful. The thought of Tetiana and her kids having to sleep on the floor of a Metro station, or a community centre is unbearable.
“It’s an embarrassment and the government should hang their heads in shame when so many of the British people have offered their homes to help in this emergency.”
Since signing up for the Homes for Ukraine scheme, the High Coniscliffe resident has had a ‘stringent’ home examination on Tuesday (March 29), which rated the suitability of her home.
But nothing more has happened since that point and no form of communication has been made by the government.
She added: “During the home visit, they asked me so many different questions about the property. Surely these people will just be glad of a home and don’t need to know the heigh of the stairs.
“The UK have all these Nightingale facilities during Covid but can’t let in refugees who are fleeing war.
“All the European countries that are opening their borders and processing people as they go, that’s what the UK should be doing – we should be a shining example. We need to cut the bureaucracy.”
Having run out of ideas about who to turn to, Mrs Allison has got in touch with Sedgefield MP, Paul Howell, about the matter, but has alleged that no response has been given by the Conservative politician.
Previously speaking about the refugee crisis and the help the government is providing, Mr Howell has expressed his pride in the “agile” response from Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the cabinet.
He said: “Putin’s war on Ukraine is monstrous and unjustified and the Government will stand with the people of Ukraine, both at home and abroad.
“This agile response to the despicable Russian invasion is living proof of our New Plan for Immigration – doing what is fair and right to support people in genuine need.”
However, that’s not the ‘united’ response from the Conservative party.
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Former communities secretary Robert Jenrick has told ministers they were not facing an “insurmountable task”, and called on them to step up efforts to process the applications of Ukrainians hoping to travel to the UK.
Mr Jenrick said: “This is going to be a wonderful scheme and we are all looking forward to welcoming tens of thousands of Ukrainians to this country, but something is going wrong with the scheme right now.
“The vast majority of sponsors have waited two weeks and won’t have heard anything at all.
“We are testing the patience of people in this country who have put themselves forward as sponsors and much more importantly we are letting down those vulnerable individuals and families in Ukraine.”
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