Brits asked to open up their homes to Ukrainian families fleeing Russian invasion in ‘rooms for refugees’ gov scheme
BRITS will be asked to open up their homes to tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees in new plans drawn up by the Government.
Families fleeing the Russian invasion will be housed by up to 40,000 generous Brits in the "rooms for refugees" scheme - while ministers are to unveil the new "sponsored" humanitarian refugee route on Monday.
It means Ukrainians without family links can stay in the UK for 12 months - while being able to work, claim benefits and access public services.
And civil servants will match them with offers of free housing from individuals, charities and businesses, who will be carefully vetted.
Brits opening up their homes will have to take Ukrainian refugees for at least six months and undergo criminal record checks - as many are expected to be women and children.
Ministers will set targets for the number of offers, and set to also rely on councils and housing associations to house the refugees.
A source told the "It's going to be tens of thousands initially. If you take a range of 10,000 to 90,000, I would expect it to be at the lower end – 20,000, 30,000, 40,000."
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PM Boris Johnson told MPs on Wednesday: "As Vladimir Putin doubles down in his attacks, we will go further and there will be routes by which the whole country can offer a welcome to vulnerable people fleeing from Ukraine."
He added Michael Gove "will be setting out a route by which the British people... can offer a home to people fleeing Ukraine."
A source said: "It's a humanitarian call for action. The majority will be doing it out of philanthropic motives."
Those with passports could get permission to come here online from Tuesday, the Home Secretary said.
Access will be granted within hours — meaning people fleeing the Russian invasion will not have to queue in freezing conditions.
The Home Sec told MPs: "Ukrainians with passports will be able to get permission to come here fully online from wherever they are and will be able to give their biometrics once in Britain.
It came as Western Officials warned that 2.2million refugees had now fled Ukraine - with many suffering from frostbite or trauma as a result of the war.
Visa Application Centres in Europe will help those without passports.
