More refugees due in Chichester arrive in UK – amid warnings of families becoming homeless

More refugees due to stay with sponsors in Chichester had arrived in the UK as of last week, according to new figures, as charities warn of rising numbers of homeless refugees across England.

Ukrainians fleeing the conflict with Russia can apply for a visa to stay in the UK under the Ukraine Family Scheme and Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme.

The Family Scheme allows Ukrainian nationals to stay with relatives already living in the UK, and the Sponsorship Scheme, also known as 'Homes for Ukraine' allows individuals to host refugees for a minimum of six months.

But the schemes have been beset with delays to processing visas – and some have warned of safeguarding issues and mismatches between hosts and refugees.

Home Office data shows 341 refugees staying with sponsors in Chichester under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme had arrived in the UK by June 13 – up from 248 on May 16.

There has also been an increase in the number of visas issued, with 474 successful applications as of June 14, a rise on the 408 four weeks prior.

The uptick in refugee arrivals has come with warnings of refugees being made homeless in some areas of England – although Chichester council has not submitted data on whether any refugee households in the area are owed support because they are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

Home Office figures published last week showed 660 refugee households across England had been given homeless prevention or relief duties by June 3, including, including 480 households with children.

Shadow levelling up and housing secretary Lisa Nandy described the situation as “shameful”.

“The British people showed amazing generosity in stepping up in their thousands to provide the care and sanctuary that these people – many of them families with young children – needed and deserved in such awful circumstances.

“But the Government has failed miserably to play its part.