Fareham Borough Council seeking hosts for Ukrainian guests

Fareham Borough Council is looking for households to host some of the Ukrainian guests staying in the area under the Homes For Ukraine scheme.

There are currently 34 households hosting Ukrainian guests in the Borough, with some hosting since the start of the scheme in May 2022. 

The guests have established themselves within the Fareham community, with the majority now speaking English, securing jobs and getting their children into local schools. Some are looking to return to Ukraine when they feel it is safe to do so, while others are focussing on securing better employment in order to sustain a rented property in the future.

The council is looking for residents who could host individual Ukrainians or Ukrainian families for a monthly payment of £500. It is also looking for people who would welcome lodgers from Ukraine for a private rent to the house owner. 

Alina Antypenko, one of Fareham’s Ukrainian guests, said: “I want to share our good experience of living with a host family. We live with absolutely wonderful people. They are so friendly that we feel that we are a part of their family.”

Naomi Ware, from one of Fareham’s host families, said: “Our experience as hosts has been absolutely amazing and I am so glad we decided to go for it. We are now 14 months in and have gained three amazing family members who we will always be close to. We have learnt so much from the experience and would not change a single thing.”

If you would be interested in opening your home or a rental property to a Ukrainian refugee, please email ukrainesupport@fareham.gov.uk.