Ukrainian refugees struggle to find homes after end of 90 days

Ukrainian refugees coming to the end of their 90-day emergency accommodation are facing an uphill battle to find somewhere to live, according to the Irish Red Cross.

With the rental market at capacity, and pledged accommodation thin on the ground, many could be forced to enter more vulnerable accommodation set-ups or leave Ireland, it said.

The problem arises because since March, Ukrainian refugees arriving into the country have been offered only 90 days’ emergency accommodation, and this will run out for them from June 15.

The Irish Red Cross says there are around 660 such refugees within the “90-day” system.

“We are supporting them in trying to find pledged accommodation, but that has its limitations and we have our concerns about that,” Niall O’Keeffe, head of international and migration at the Irish Red Cross, said.

“In reality there are three options for people leaving emergency accommodation. They can find their own solution, which is very difficult in the current rental climate; they can avail of pledged accommodation, which is not plentiful; or they can leave, which leaves them in a very vulnerable position.

“We know what the rental market is like, and the Ukrainian refugees don’t have access to HAP [housing assistance payment], making it hard to compete for what little rental accommodation there is. And they won’t be able to enter the emergency accommodation system again, so they are in a weak position and might find themselves tempted to take up more vulnerable accommodation or become homeless.”

He said that many people travelling from Ukraine more recently are in a worse position than those who fled their homeland at the outbreak of the Russian invasion.

“The situation is getting worse in the Kharkiv and Donbas areas of Ukraine as Russia steps up its ground invasion, and more villages are being captured, leading to more people fleeing,” he said.

“They held on for as long as they couldandnowtheyarepoorerand more desperate and vulnerable.

“So that combined with the restricted accommodation and changes to the social welfare payments is really two scenarios coming together in a negative way.

“Temporary protection and state accommodation is a huge positive and has to be commended, but we feel that people need to be supported to transition from their current situation rather than be forced to transition.”