MOSCOW, November 25 – RIA Novosti. Ukrainian refugees face discrimination by British landlords who deliberately reject their accommodation ‘just because of their status’ says On the grounds of the LBC radio station.

A Ukrainian woman named Evgenia, who came to the UK with her four children in February as part of the “Ukrainian Houses” programme, said she faced a similar situation after the agreed six-month stay in the host country.

She said she faced “enormous obstacles” in searching for her own home, despite her family offering to vouch for it. “I was surprised because all the people here were so kind to us before,” the woman complained.

Rob Hamilton, who lives with Evgenia, told LBC that he started calling potential hosts on her behalf, but everything fell silent as soon as the conversation mentioned refugees.

A survey by the Office for National Statistics earlier this week found that almost half of Ukrainians moving to the UK face barriers when trying to rent private housing. According to LBC, local authorities have asked host families to “desperately” extend the resettlement period of Ukrainians after the agreed six-month period under the “Ukrainian Homes” programme, while in some areas municipalities have even increased the amount of financial support. host country. But many of the refugees hosting refugees told the radio station that they “needed a break after the hardships of recent months.”

Bridget Smith, Vice-President of the UK Network of District Councils, told LBC that the cost of living crisis in the country is a factor in changing attitudes towards refugees. But he suggested the Christmas holidays could also be the cause, as “people need a place at home for their family and visiting friends.”

“If you provide a place in your home to house people for six months, and usually your entire family comes in for Christmas and takes up all the beds and space in your home, then it makes it difficult to decide whether to continue with refugees – approx ed.)” Smith added.

In the spring, the UK eased the visa regime for Ukrainians. Visas under the family program for Ukrainian refugees have become free, are granted for three years, and allow them to live, work, study and access government funds in the country. Such documents can be obtained by those who have relatives in the UK. The sponsorship program (“Ukrainian Houses”) assumes that refugees can come to those who are ready to receive them in their homes.