Families fleeing war-torn countries are to receive welcome support from South Kesteven District Council (SKDC), from temporary homes offered to them through a Government scheme.

Full Council has agreed to accept a £2,098,750 allocation from the Government-funded Local Authority Housing Fund. 

This will be supplemented by £2,383,750 from SKDC's Housing Revenue Account reserves giving a total £4.482m project to purchase 21 properties.

These will add to the SKDC social housing portfolio, initially for use by Afghan and Ukrainian evacuee families who have arrived legally in the UK and later by families on the SKDC Housing Register.

Afghan resettlement prioritises those who assisted the UK with military operations in the country, plus those at greatest risk from the Taliban. Schemes to assist Ukraine nationals focus on legal resettlement and support for women and children refugees displaced by the conflict.

The Local Authority Housing Fund is to ease pressure on local housing demand and create a new and permanent supply of accommodation for local authorities to assist UK nationals in the future.

The Leader of South Kesteven District Council, Cllr Kelham Cooke, said: "This humanitarian gesture is something we should all be proud of, as it gives something back to those who supported the UK in Afghanistan and to Ukrainians escaping the terrible suffering in their own country.

"This investment will help refugees in their hour of need and create a lasting legacy by providing housing to help address local demand, and reduce future homelessness pressures for local people as the evacuees move out of the system."

Cabinet Member for Housing and Property, Cllr Robert Reid said: "Local authorities and communities have worked tirelessly to provide safe refuge for people in their hour of need, with South Kesteven residents currently providing homes for the highest number of Ukraine refugees in the whole of Lincolnshire.

"The new scheme is not aimed at those who have arrived in the UK illegally, outside of Government sponsored resettlement schemes. Many of the families we are talking about, brought in by the UK Government, are with host families on short-term placements or living in temporary hostel accommodation.

"While this project allows the Council to access external funding, it requires SKDC to commit £2.38m of its own resources, in addition to the main Budget papers being considered this week."

Full Council, on Wednesday 1 March, voted to accept the Government allocation of £2,098,750 to support the purchase of 21 new homes in the District to meet short, medium and long-term housing need.

They also agreed to move £2,383,750 from the SKDC's Housing Revenue Account Priorities Reserve to fund its contribution.

The Local Authority Housing Fund helps provide affordable accommodation for legal evacuees until their visas expire in around 3-5 years' time, by supporting local authorities. SKDC expects to approach developers with a view to purchase 19 two- or three-bedroom new-build homes and two four-bed+ properties.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities fund is worth £500m nationally.

SKDC is one of three local authorities in Lincolnshire, among just 180 nationwide to be selected to benefit from this fund.