The British government has launched a new initiative, "Homes for Ukraine," which calls for citizens to offer temporary shelter to Ukrainian refugees who have fled their country due to the ongoing conflict. The UN estimates that approximately 2.5 million Ukrainians have been displaced by the fighting.
Individuals who are interested in participating in the program can register their interest by filling out a visa application, which will be accessible starting March 18. Those who express an interest in hosting a refugee will be subjected to a vetting process to ensure that their intentions are genuine and that they have the necessary facilities to support the refugee. The minimum commitment required is six months, although hosts are encouraged to offer their support for as long as they can.
It should be noted that there are no restrictions on who can register for the program, and successful applicants will be able to host refugees even if they have no prior family ties in the UK. The Home Office will also conduct a visit to ensure that the facilities offered are adequate. In the first five hours of the program's launch, nearly 45,000 people had already registered their interest.