As a result of my last blog, a councillor from South Oxfordshire District Council with particular responsibility for Refugees, who knew Ekaterina got in touch. She took the trouble to re assure me that we had done our stuff having someone for 6 months and now they were working to find another place for E. She also said that E. had a case worker from the Council and that there might well be funding for her from the ‘at risk of being homeless fund’.
So no wonder E was advised to say she was being made homeless - that was the way to unlock resources. What an unfortunate unintended consequence.
But she wanted us to know we were not on our own.
My bro’ put all his energy and determination into finding an Air BnB that would take dogs and he found one round the corner !
The Council found another host family who would take E for another 6 months on a farm.
Then amazingly, miraculously, a contact related in some way to Springwater church who have done so much to help Ukrainians hosting coffee mornings said there was someone in Henley who was travelling and was happy to let E have her house to house sit for 6 months paying rent with a short hold tenancy agreement. She was happy to take lower rent to match that provided by Housing Benefit in return for coming back for 6 weeks in the middle of the 6 months. The house is right in the town. E is frankly delighted. And that is where she is headed October 31st.
It was so good to see her relief.
I am particularly pleased as it means she will have a landlord who can in due course provide a reference and by paying rent E improves her credit rating. She is on her way.
Today I was informed that there is a formal tenancy agreement and someone to help E. move.
It appears this miracle is not a mirage. But I am still keeping fingers and toes crossed.
Meanwhile James is safely back from Romania and Ukraine. He took 5 hours to cross the border but as he explained -
‘Don’t you know there is a war on’.
I am pleased to have him back.
Ends.
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