NEW figures show several Ukrainian refugee households have faced homelessness in Cheshire West and Chester, and Cheshire East.

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in March, refugees from the war have been invited to stay in the UK under the Ukrainian Sponsorship and Family schemes.

The former sets up refugees with hosts in the UK for an initial six months, who receive support from their local council and a stipend of £350.

However, as the cost-of-living crisis starts to bite and the initial hosting period comes to an end, it is feared that many more refugees could become homeless nationally.

New figures from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) show across both schemes, nine refugee households had been made homeless or put at risk of homelessness in Cheshire West and Chester as of September 23.

In Cheshire East, this figure was 38.

Nationally, the number of refugee households with homelessness duties surged 22 per cent over the same period, from 1,565 to 1,915.

Of those, 1,335 households – 70 per cent – had dependent children.

The figures also show that across the country, homelessness has been avoided in 665 of these cases, up from 550 the month before.

Homelessness was avoided or relieved for four refugee households in Cheshire West and 23 in Cheshire East.

Hosts sign on for an initial six months, and while the Government says it will continue to provide support for an additional six months, several charities have said they are worried people may choose not to, given the rising costs of food and fuel.

In Cheshire West, a breakdown of the hosting arrangement was the main reason for homelessness in seven cases.

In Cheshire East, a breakdown of the hosting arrangement was the main reason for homelessness in 37 cases, and one because their accommodation was unsuitable.

DLUHC figures show 543 Ukrainian refugee households due in Cheshire West and Chester – from 630 successful applications – had arrived in the UK by October 4 under the sponsorship scheme.

This was up from 501 arrivals on September 6, when 605 visas had been issued.

Meanwhile 573 Ukrainian refugee households due in Cheshire East – from 682 successful applications – had arrived in the UK by October 4 under the sponsorship scheme.

This was up from 525 arrivals on September 6, when 663 visas had been issued.

In the month to October 4, 96,800 refugees had arrived in the UK, with 136,600 visas approved under the scheme.

A spokesperson for DLUHC said: “We are grateful to the British public for opening up their communities to the people of Ukraine and the generosity they have shown.

“The majority of sponsors want to continue hosting for longer than six months. Where guests do move on, they have a number of options, including to enter private rental or find a new host to sponsor them."

"Councils have a duty to ensure families are not left without a roof over their heads,” they added.