A Ukrainian refugee, identified only as Taisiia, chose to return to Kyiv instead of staying in Swansea due to the poor condition of the housing she was offered. Taisiia, who arrived in Swansea in June 2022 with her seven-month-old daughter as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme, was unable to find suitable independent housing and was advised to make herself homeless to be considered for social housing. She was eventually offered a house, but the condition of the property was unacceptable, with holes in walls and floors, dog urine smells and a leaking radiator, prompting her to try to return to her homeland.
After spending 21 days in Kyiv, Taisiia decided to return to Wales when she realized that the quality of life in Kyiv would be poor. With the help of volunteers and neighbors, she raised £2,000 to renovate the Swansea house. The community’s support allowed her to put down new flooring, plaster walls and paint the house, which she described as being in a much better condition. However, Taisiia’s future in Wales remains unclear, given the current uncertainty regarding the status of Ukrainians in the UK.
Despite her situation, Taisiia is trying to make a life in Wales. She attends college to transfer her psychology qualifications to the UK while her daughter Solomiia has received a grant to attend nursery. However, Taisiia remains worried about her future and what it holds.
The UK government has issued three-year visas to Ukrainians seeking sanctuary; however, immigration and asylum law lecturer Jennifer Morgan from Cardiff University says that the extension of these visas has simply pushed issues further down the road for those struggling to gain access to housing and education. Welsh authorities have provided £8.2m to assist “the move on of people from Ukraine to longer-term accommodation and integrate into local communities,” while the UK government provides £5,900 to councils to support individuals, including those who are left without accommodation
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