AN APPEAL has gone out for landlords in East Hampshire who would be happy to rent their properties to refugee families from Syria to come forward.

East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) is working with other authorities and volunteer groups to support Syrian refugees likely to arrive in the district in the new year.

Around 20,000 displaced people from camps in Syria, Turkey and Jordan are due to be rehomed in the UK by 2020 and EHDC has offered to help.

Council leader Ferris Cowper said: “While EHDC remains really supportive, I must stress it is important for a fully co-ordinated approach across Hampshire ensuring support networks are in place.”

The council is working with Hampshire County Council and the Rural Refugee Network (RRN), a Petersfield-based group of volunteers from East Hampshire and West Sussex.

The group is aiming to make the move to East Hampshire as trauma-free as possible for the refugee families by providing welcome packs, translation services, information and other help.

The group acknowledges that helping refugees settle happily and productively, without the support, help and input from the council would be hard.

But as there aren’t enough affordable homes to meet demand, and places for homeless people are few, the Syrian families, all vetted before arriving in the UK, will be re-homed in properties owned by private landlords.

Cllr Cowper added: “Any accommodation that is identified would not normally have been made available to the council to assist potential homeless families.

“I would like to reassure residents that any help provided to refugees will not have any detrimental impact on our customers.” The council and its partners are also exploring opportunities with churches to provide family homes for refugees.

The refugees’ living expenses for the first year will be met by the Government, but it is hoped the families will soon become self-sufficient, allowing the financial support to shrink.

If you can help, e-mail Tracey Wood at tracey.wood @easthants.gov.uk or the RRN at: enquiries@rural refugeenetwork.org.uk