Eight homes have been bought in East Hampshire for refugees fleeing terror and conflict.
The homes have been bought partly with money from the government and partly with developers’ contributions earmarked for affordable housing.
Of the eight homes, seven are intended for Ukrainian refugees and one for a family from Afghanistan.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict is estimated to have caused tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilian casualties and displaced millions more.
In Afghanistan large-scale evacuations saw vulnerable Afghan citizens leave their home country when US and NATO forces withdrew in August 2021.
The innocent people fleeing these conflicts looked to friendly nations elsewhere to provide sanctuary.
As part of a Government-backed refugee scheme thousands of Ukrainians came to the UK, and further funding through that scheme has allowed for the purchase of properties specifically for refugees.
The homes will be council-owned, once they become vacant they can be added to the local stock of social housing in East Hampshire.
Cllr Adeel Shah, Portfolio Holder, Community Development and Engagement, said: “This is a great scheme which means that we can help some of those who desperately need assistance.
“It has been an incredibly difficult and traumatic time for many of our refugees. One of our guests wept with emotion when she saw her new home, so relieved was she to have somewhere safe and secure.
“Thousands of selfless people agreed to share their homes with Ukrainian refugees when the conflict first broke and now we can find them a home to call their own.
“It’s thanks to government money and contributions paid to the council from local developments that we are able to do this. And once the homes become available again the homes will be added to our social housing stock.
“No one should have to flee their home in fear, but it is a great credit to this country that we are so ready to welcome people in great need and offer them security and comfort.”
The Department of Levelling Up Housing and Communities asked councils to buy homes to help with the refugee crisis resulting specifically from conflicts in Ukraine and Afghanistan.
As a result, EHDC bought eight houses between June and October 2023. The homes, which are not new but are mostly less than 10 years old, include six two-bedroom homes, one three-bedroom home and one four-bedroom home. Five of the homes are in Bordon, with two in Petersfield and one in Horndean.
The developer contributions used to buy the homes were earmarked specifically for affordable housing projects. Funding pots for community projects relating to open space, community facilities and environmental improvements were not affected.