A few days before Christmas, the Scottish government decided to stop funding housing payments for Ukrainian refugees. Find out more about what Ukrainians can expect and why the authorities made this decision

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At the end of December, the Scottish government informed local authorities that it would stop funding housing payments for Ukrainians. City halls have expressed concern that they will have to stop supporting hotels where refugees live, the Daily Record reports.

Scottish authorities plan to cancel payments to Ukrainians

Scotland has a "super sponsorship" program that allows refugees to obtain a visa by naming the Scottish government as their sponsor, instead of looking for a host family. 

As you know, almost 38 thousand Ukrainians took advantage of this program last year, with local authorities receiving £10 million to provide short-term housing.

As a result of the reduction of funding for Scottish councils to support refugees, First Minister Hamza Yusuf was accused of "betraying" Ukraine. If local governments do not receive sufficient funding and have to cover the costs from their own budgets, this could lead to a reduction in municipal services. In a letter to the Scottish government, local councils noted that without guaranteed funding, they may stop supporting hotels.

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Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Ann Somerville said the government would not continue to fund "eligible costs" as it had done in the past. She pointed out that from the outset, the Scottish Government has emphasized that displaced people should move from short-term to permanent accommodation as soon as possible.

Somerville added that thanks to joint national efforts, the number of people living in short-term housing has decreased by more than 60% since November 2022.

Mandy Watt, Deputy Leader of Edinburgh Council, expressed surprise at the decision, which she believes will have a negative impact on families starting a new life in Scotland who have been supported through an important period of adjustment.

Please note! To ensure a safe stay abroad, you should take care of reliable health insurance in advance, which will not only help you maintain your health, but also protect you from unforeseen expenses. You can take out an insurance policy that covers emergency medical care in case of illnesses and accidents, as well as inpatient and outpatient care around the world on the Visit Ukraine website. In addition, on our portal, you can immediately apply for car insurance - the Green Card, which is mandatory in 50 countries, including the EU.

Earlier we wrote that the support programs for refugees from Ukraine are constantly changing, and some of them are being completely canceled by the authorities. Find out what major changes for Ukrainians will take place in Poland in 2024 and what to expect in the near future.

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