Ukrainian refugees in the UK are worried about a government plan to cut the funding given to those who host them under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. The program, launched after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has helped over 181,000 of the 234,000 Ukrainians who have come to the UK for refuge. The government has announced that starting from 1 January 2027, the monthly payments to hosts, known as "thank you" payments, will be reduced from £350 to £100. Additionally, the amount given to local authorities for each Ukrainian arrival will also decrease, as part of a broader funding cut from £5,900 to £3,300. Tetiana, a 73-year-old Ukrainian refugee who has been hosted in the UK for over two years, expressed deep concern after receiving the government’s notice about the changes. She fears that the reduced payments could make it difficult for her host to continue supporting her. “If hosting ends, I don’t know where I will go or how I can start again,” she said. Tetiana, who fled from Kharkiv near the Russian frontline, cannot return to Ukraine due to ongoing conflict and has mobility issues that prevent her from working. She described the change as creating a lot of uncertainty and worry about her future. Nataliya Rumyanetseva, who is hosting her mother, the first Ukrainian to arrive in the UK after the war began, said the changes could have a major impact on the refugee experience. “When refugees arrive, they are shell-shocked and need time to adapt and learn the language,” she said. She argued that turning hosting into a more commercial rental arrangement would be cruel, as it could make the process more difficult for those in need. Some hosts are also concerned about their own financial stability. One host in Greenwich, who has been supporting a Ukrainian refugee since May 2022, said the drop in payments to £100 was alarming. He lost his job shortly after becoming a sponsor and relied on the payments to manage financially. He described the change as worrying, not just for Ukrainians but also for the hosts who have taken on the responsibility in good faith. The government has suggested that hosts may be able to switch to landlord status and charge refugees rent. However, some hosts criticized this as an unfair move. A host in Cardiff, who is helping a Ukrainian refugee enrolled in a study program, called the government’s decision a “cheap shot.” He emphasized that both the hosts and the refugees acted in good faith, and he felt the government was taking advantage of the vulnerable situation. The government has stated it has already invested over £1.81 billion in the scheme, though the Home Office has not yet commented on the recent changes.