Refurbished social housing opens to those fleeing the war in Ukraine

Refugees living in temporary accommodation, like these girls who are housed on a cruise ship in Edinburgh, have started moving into refurbished social housing in Wishaw.

The project, which was supported by £5 million of Scottish Government funding, has enabled North Lanarkshire Council to refurbish void properties in one block and another in Coatbridge.

This project was agreed ahead of the launch of the new Ukraine Longer Term Resettlement Fund which is making up to £50 million available to refurbish properties that otherwise would not be available for let.

The homes provided will be available for rent for up to three years - in line with the length of time Ukrainian refugees can stay under the Homes for Ukraine visa - after which time some will continue to be available as social rented homes.

The latest figures released by he Scottish Government show that only around 5,015 refugees holding a visa have found long-term housing solutions with a Scottish visa while others are docked on board cruise ships. A total of 21,012 displaced people from Ukraine have arrived in Scotland under the Homes form Ukraine scheme.

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Refugees minister, Neil Gray, said: “We want to help displaced people from Ukraine move to longer-term accommodation so they have their own space and settle in a community. I’m pleased that people are already living in some of the flats and that more will be moving in soon. I was grateful for the opportunity to meet a family who recently moved in to a flat here. They told me about their experience of getting to Scotland and how they are now rebuilding their lives in their new home.

Leader of North Lanarkshire Council Councillor Jim Logue said: “We have carried out extensive refurbishment work to temporarily reinstate two of our residential tower blocks in Wishaw and Coatbridge to provide accommodation for Ukrainians and it is heartening to see the first families and individuals set up home, with children at local schools, some people working and others involved in the local community.

"With so many people fleeing a country and facing an uncertain future, it is a great credit that council services have responded so quickly to assist them and will continue to work and support families as they integrate with communities.”