The minister responsible for for immigration says government has reached out and offered supports to a single Ukrainian mother moving back to the war-torn country due to a lack of affordable housing, but the offer was declined.

Recently VOCM News spoke with Marina, a mother of three who had successfully found employment and an apartment in St. John’s—but because the owner is selling the house, she now has until the end of December to move.

She says that due to a lack of affordable housing options, and a longing to be back with family still in Ukraine, she has made the difficult decision to move back to her home country.

Minister Gerry Byrne says upon hearing Marina’s story he immediately reached out to her, noting that they had found some viewings for three-bedroom apartments for her.

He was told that she is very appreciative of the offer for housing, but that she had made up her mind that she wants to go home to be with her family.