New data has revealed that 70 per cent of Ukrainian households that are homeless, or are at risk of becoming homeless, have been successfully rehomed by Blackburn with Darwen Council.

According to the data from the Government’s Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, this means that 30 per cent are still waiting to find suitable accommodation.

The council say the families that have not yet found a host family “are receiving support to either secure social housing or go into private accommodation”.

According to the data, which was first published in December 2022 and updated this month, 10 Ukrainian households in Blackburn with Darwen were owed a prevention or relief duty, which is used to help with a person’s housing situation within 56 days of becoming homeless.

50 per cent of those are households with children, with the other half single people.

Homelessness is said to have been 'prevented' or 'relieved' for seven out of 10 households, meaning suitable accommodation was secured for six or more months.

However the remaining three are still facing homelessness or uncertain living conditions.

Four homes offered in the Ukraine Family Scheme, which allows applicants to join family members or extend their stay in the UK, were found to be not suitable upon arrival.

In the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, which allows Ukrainians and their family members to come to the UK if they have a named sponsor who can provide accommodation for six months, a housing arrangement broke down for one household and the living arrangements for five households were found to be not available or suitable.

Blackburn with Darwen bucks the national and regional trend, as around 66 per cent (5,280) of Ukrainian households have been rehomed in England and around 57 per cent (300) have been rehomed in the North West as a whole.

In Burnley, 100 per cent of Ukrainian households (12) that were owed a prevention or relief duty have been rehomed and.

In Pendle around 76 per cent of households have found suitable accommodation.

In Hyndburn, Ribble Valley and Rossendale data was not submitted or was incomplete.

Damian Talbot, executive member for public health, prevention and wellbeing, said: “Blackburn with Darwen Council’s experience of the Homes for Ukraine scheme has been a thoroughly positive one.

“We have formed close and effective working relationships with host families and their Ukrainian guests and provided support throughout.

“This support starts as soon as the visa application is applied for and includes housing inspections, safeguarding checks and ensuring that the host family is fully aware of what is involved in sponsoring a family.

“Once guests have arrived, we aim to go out and visit them within 24-hours, issue welcome payment, support with benefits applications, school and college applications and help with any other aspects of integration.

“We believe that it is this comprehensive approach, coupled with wonderful hosts, that has led to such high numbers of Ukrainian households being successfully re-homed.

“Of those families who haven’t established themselves with a host family, they are receiving support to either secure social housing or go into private accommodation.

"Here we support with viewings to ensure that the properties are in good order and we also attend with them at tenancy sign ups.”

According to figures from August, a total of 78 people who have fled Ukraine following the invasion by Russia have come to Blackburn to seek a save haven.