A volunteer group is continuing to do everything they can to welcome and settle in the Ukrainian refugees that are living in St Albans under the Homes for Ukraine programme.
An event focused on the inner workings of the UK’s rental market was held on July 29 after a survey with St Albans’ Ukrainians highlighted what their most pressing needs are.
The survey asked, “What are the most important topics you need to learn about which will help settle you into the UK?”
Help with CV’s and job searching was one of the top responses, with 78% of people saying they needed this support. 62.5% said they needed assistance with housing and 94% said they needed English lessons.
Forty people attended the event, which was held at the SS Alban and Stephen Catholic Church, to listen to key speaker, senior lettings negotiator at Winckworth London and a local Russian-speaking volunteer, Maria Lopatina,
Although the Homes for Ukraine program has allowed Ukrainian refugees to find a safe place at their sponsor’s homes initially, worries about what comes next are rife amongst the community. Mrs Lopatina covered the key steps and procedures associated with house rentals in the UK, tenants’ rights and responsibilities, the step-by-step process of the search, offer and agreement as well as the termination of rental agreements and payments.
Volunteer Alexandra Tretiakova said: “It is going to be very challenging for many families, the rental market is suffering from the lack of available properties, the prices have sky-rocketed, and the Ukrainians have not got enough time to settle in and find permanent jobs which make them attractive tenants. Are we going to see a huge tide of people at risk of homelessness once the initial 6 months committed by the sponsors are over by Christmas time?”
“We know our Ukrainian community has the spirit of action, risk-taking, and desire to be independent and successful. We just have to support this spirit and pull together to make it all happen.
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