Principality Building Society is offering properties it owns to Ukrainian refugees.
The mutual has already housed one family in Cardiff and is in discussions with other councils across Wales to house more in up to five of its properties.
For security reasons it is not specifying the precise location of the properties in south and west Wales.
Principality have been advised to charge rent in-line with local housing allowances to ensure equality for others leaving welcome centres into permanent housing. The refugees will be able to claim housing benefit so will only be charged what they can afford.
Julie-Ann Haines, chief executive of the Principality said: “What is happening in Ukraine is devastating for millions of families and we have been considering how best we can help with the resettlement scheme in Wales. As a business that helps people secure homes and stay in them for longer, offering our vacant properties to refugees is one way we will be able to support individuals and families in the coming months.
“We recently received approval of a Homes for Ukraine sponsorship request which has seen us successfully re-home a Ukrainian family in one of our properties. The family are settling in well and where we’re able to, we will be hoping to continue to do work such as this to make a tangible effort to support the families affected by this crisis. We have heard how some refuge welcome centres are full and we hope other businesses will step forward to offer their support.
“Some of our colleagues have gone above and beyond to support this family by giving up their free time to make sure they are settled, have helped them open bank accounts and ensured they have what they need during this difficult time. That is what our colleagues and generous-hearted people in communities across Wales do – help one another.”
Earlier this year Principality donated £20,000 to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC). In addition a savings account was opened specifically for members to make donations to the Ukrainian crisis. This has now raised a further £6,000 which was then donated to the Ukraine Humanitarian appeal.
