Approximately 200 Moray households open their doors for Ukrainian refugees
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AROUND 200 households in Moray have offered to open their doors and welcome in Ukrainian refugees.
So far, around 60 Ukrainians have arrived in Moray since Russia's invasion of their homeland began on February 24.
These arrivals have come as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme – which allowed Scots to bring Ukrainians that they know across Europe to live with them.
Health and Social Care Moray's Refugee Resettlement team have been pleasantly surprised by the response from people in the area.
Carmen Gillies, who is lead officer of the Refugee Resettlement Team, said: "There have been approximately 200 expressions of interest from households in Moray, which is great.
"Moray Council will be working through a process in order to support matching hosts with arrivals."
Don Toonen, Moray Council's equal opportunities officer, said that more Ukrainians will be matched with hosts in the coming weeks.
"There has been a very good response with people offering to house refugees," he said. "Lots of people have stepped up which is amazing.
"It's a big responsibility for people. It's not just having someone in your house, the sponsors are responsible for just about everything, making sure they are safe and getting access to services.
"Refugees are living all over Moray at the moment. The 60 people from Ukraine matched with people in Moray currently have done so through self-matching.
"There will be another phase after this where the Scottish Government will also match people to families. So there are definitely more to come."
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