Chief Rabbi urges community to give 'full support' to Home for Ukraine scheme

British citizens can apply to accept Ukrainians into their homes for a minimum of six months, and will be given £350 a month for doing so

By Lee Harpin March 15, 2022, 9:20 am Edit

Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis has urged the community to give “their full support” to a government scheme aiming to provide homes in this country to Ukrainian refugees fleeing war.

The government’s Home for Ukraine scheme was launched on Monday, giving UK individuals, charities, community groups and businesses the opportunity to record their interest in supporting Ukrainians escaping the Russian invasion of their country.

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove set out details of the scheme in the Commons, after complaints about the government’s slow response to the worst humanitarian disaster in Europe for decades./

Responding to the announcement, the Chief Rabbi tweeted: Many Jews are alive today because people were prepared to open their borders and their homes to their ancestors when they were fleeing for their lives.

“Many more did not survive because not enough did. I urge all who are able to give this scheme their full support.”

Under the scheme British citizens will be able to apply to accept Ukrainians into their homes for a minimum of six months, and will be given £350 a month for doing so.

Those applying will be subjected to “light touch” vetting checks and checks from local authorities on the suitability of their homes.

Sponsored Ukrainians will be granted three years’ leave to remain in the UK, with entitlement to work and access public services

World Jewish Relief has offered to help coordinate the process of matching Ukrainian refugees with Jewish community members willing to host.

A statement released by the Jewish Leadership Council urged “willing hosts from the Jewish community are encouraged to register their interest on both the government website and through the form that is now live on World Jewish Relief’s website so that they can endeavour to assist this process.”

Last week, in response to the refugee crisis arising out of the war in Ukraine, the JLC and the Board of Deputies brought together 22 key organisations connected to the Jewish community for an initial discussion over a suitable response.

The groups focused on immediate refugee needs in and around Ukraine and upon arrival in the UK; campaigns and communications and finally, mid to long term support for refugees in the UK including housing and community sponsorship.

The discussions that resulted from this meeting of the Jewish community task force underlined that the greatest number of refugees and people affected by the conflict are in Ukraine itself or the surrounding regions.

It was agreed that the best way to help these people is by making financial donations and that donating items can often end up wasting charities’ resources and can even end up in landfill. The task force agreed that community organisations such as World Jewish Relief have long standing partnerships in Ukraine and are best placed to channel funds appropriately.

By Monday night over 40,000 UK citizens had registered interest in the scheme.