I have hosted many Afghan refugees in my spare room, and will continue to offer it. AMA

[54321nought]

Leading on from another thread, where concerns were raised about finding housing for the number of refugees coming into the UK, and whether they would be a threat to those offering to house them.

I have supported refugees, mostly Afghan refugees in a number of ways for many years, including hosting in my spare room.

I have never had an Afghan guest who has been anything other than polite, deferential, and unassuming, but very very interesting when they have opened up.

I also feel there is a misconception about the number s involved. It sounds like big numbers, but it is less than 1% of the number of English residents that die in an average year, just to put it into perspective - it is really not going to increase our population at all

And as far as housing goes, there is asylum seeker housing, but there is no refugee housing, hence why people like me host them. They are certainly not jumping the housing queue!

I am too anxious to do it but I think you’re amazing to do it.

Do you have to live in your own property or can you give a spare room if you live in local authority housing . My parents are in a 2 bed bungalow with the local authority but I think they’d love to do this.

@Whatinthelord

Do you have to live in your own property or can you give a spare room if you live in local authority housing . My parents are in a 2 bed bungalow with the local authority but I think they’d love to do this.

I don't see why not, but that is something you could ask the charity

Do you continue with the relationship, when they move out?

@Badfootkk

Do you continue with the relationship, when they move out?

sometimes yes! One has come back to stay as a family friend several times, over Christmas, etc, and has also stayed as a cat sitter when we have been on holiday

Some move on, and we don't hear from them again,

Yes! There are many occasions when even one or two nights prevents someone having to sleep on the street

Would you consider housing other homeless people, or is it specifically only refugees? Many people (British and foreign born) are literally street homeless including victims of domestic violence. It's wonderful what you're doing btw.

I had many Afghan boys put in my class years ago and they were lovely chaps. Some very quiet, traumatised with PTSD many had seen their family be killed. Some chatty, friendly, hardworking, and very kind to others. I used to love talking to them about their traditions, about their religion, their way of life in Afganistán it so interesting.

I fought to keep some of them in the country with letters of support to the home office, many were allowed to stay. I still keep in contact with a few of them through references for jobs and one is a live in care worker for disabled adults in the UK. He had such a hard start to life and now spends his days caring for our adults. So lovely.

Sorry to derail OP, I think what you are doing is fantastic! 👏🏼

@Tealightsandd

Yes! There are many occasions when even one or two nights prevents someone having to sleep on the street

Would you consider housing other homeless people, or is it specifically only refugees? Many people (British and foreign born) are literally street homeless including victims of domestic violence. It's wonderful what you're doing btw.

yes, but |I am a teacher and leave early in the mornings, before 5am. If I took in young people for Nightstop, or similar, their rules mean the guest would have to leave the premises when I do, which means never on a school night, or I would have to kick them out at a ridiculous time.

With refugees, I am able to go to work and leave them alone at home

I was assessed by Nightstop, but my hours made it difficult, There are other charities looking for other types of hosts though, as well as people to host refugees

@MrsTumbletap

I had many Afghan boys put in my class years ago and they were lovely chaps. Some very quiet, traumatised with PTSD many had seen their family be killed. Some chatty, friendly, hardworking, and very kind to others. I used to love talking to them about their traditions, about their religion, their way of life in Afganistán it so interesting.

I fought to keep some of them in the country with letters of support to the home office, many were allowed to stay. I still keep in contact with a few of them through references for jobs and one is a live in care worker for disabled adults in the UK. He had such a hard start to life and now spends his days caring for our adults. So lovely.

Sorry to derail OP, I think what you are doing is fantastic! 👏🏼

It isn't a derail, its a nice contribution, thank you

I don't mean young people. There are many older people on the streets - including victims of domestic violence (some are British but others are migrants with insecure status who can't easily access refuges or other accomodation). Sorry derailing a bit. I'm just thinking how good it would be to have a similar scheme (or merge it?) for homeless (British or foreign born).

@Tealightsandd

I don't mean young people. There are many older people on the streets - including victims of domestic violence (some are British but others are migrants with insecure status who can't easily access refuges or other accomodation). Sorry derailing a bit. I'm just thinking how good it would be to have a similar scheme (or merge it?) for homeless (British or foreign born).

I am involved in running shelters so I know of many people in this situation, you are right, there are lots of people who need help. Some of the shelters I know try and move vulnerable homeless adults in to family settings. I think the main difference is that this is longer term/permanent, whereas what I offer is to bridge a gap, and I like the fact that I have breaks between guests

For any landlords on here there are schemes underway nationwide seeking homes for the rehousing of the families of Afghan Locally Employed Staff (eg interpreters who worked for our military) offering you secure rent and covering repairs and maintenance.

Great thread. I met one of the founders of Refugees At Home last year, she was such an interesting woman. I'd definitely like to be a host once the DC have left home.

From what she said, hosts need to provide:

A bedroom with a lock
Access to a bathroom/kitchen

If you can also provide conversation, an evening meal, and a bit of help with paperwork etc then that is very well received.

Most guests want to be in cities, not rural locations.

I also met, on the same occasion, two single women who have both hosted male refugees in their homes. Both planned to do it again after the pandemic.

The screening and support process sounded far safer than, for example, letting out your room on Air BnB.

Can I ask what the difference between a refugee and an asylum seeker is? I know asylum seekers are not allowed to work and are given a pittance of an allowance to live on.

I would love to help in some way, I can't host because I'm a single parent living in a 2 bedroom house but would happily spend time making people feel welcome and settle into my community.

@Gingerkittykat

Can I ask what the difference between a refugee and an asylum seeker is? I know asylum seekers are not allowed to work and are given a pittance of an allowance to live on.

I would love to help in some way, I can't host because I'm a single parent living in a 2 bedroom house but would happily spend time making people feel welcome and settle into my community.

This is the description from amnesty international but I’m not sure exactly how it translates in to various rights in the UK.

“An asylum-seeker is a person who has left their country and is seeking protection from persecution and serious human rights violations in another country, but who hasn’t yet been legally recognized as a refugee and is waiting to receive a decision on their asylum claim. Seeking asylum is a human right. This means everyone should be allowed to enter another country to seek asylum.“

I am hoping to do this though I don’t think there’ll be much need where I am, but who knows.

@Justbetweenus

How did you get involved? How do refugees find you - is it through a charity? What a wonderful thing to do.

yes, there are several charities who match refugees with hosts

@Gingerkittykat

Can I ask what the difference between a refugee and an asylum seeker is? I know asylum seekers are not allowed to work and are given a pittance of an allowance to live on.

I would love to help in some way, I can't host because I'm a single parent living in a 2 bedroom house but would happily spend time making people feel welcome and settle into my community.

An asylum seeker is a person undergoing the process of applying for refugee status, which can take years. Asylum seekers have accommodation provided. They are very restricted in what they are allowed to do. The cannot travel, they cannot work.

A refugee is someone who has gone through this process and has been granted refugee status. This frees them up to work, but they will lose their asylum seeker accommodation, often on the same day that their case is settled.

It can be quite horrific - I have even know a man with no eyes get refugee status, and be lead to the door of his asylum seeker accommodation the same day, and have the door closed on him

If someone fails to get refugee status, they will also lose their accommodation. If they start an appeal, they are housed in asylum seeker accommodation again, BUT it can take months to get an appeal started, and in that time, they are also on the street.

It is a very complicated and slow moving system.

The people we house have either gained refugee status, or have lost their cases and are waiting to lodge an appeal.

About half will eventually win appeals and get refugee status.

In all this process, we sometimes get the same guest back and forth, firstly as a failed asylum seeker waiting to appeal, then later as a refugee

OP, I don't have any questions but just want to say that you are truly an amazing person. I would love to do this, but dh isn't keen. To be fair, he has his own history of trauma and would struggle to have a stranger in the house.

What you are doing is incredible, and I know how much it will mean to some of the people who you take in. I used to work with young asylum seekers and they had been through so much. Even the smallest kindness sometimes meant the world to them It's wonderful that people are generous enough to open their homes and offer sanctuary.

Thank you so much for what you do. The world needs more people like you.

Do you have to live in a city centre, or can you live more rural?

Do you work full-time as a teacher?
Would you plan on retiring and continue to develop your role?

@Elouera

Do you have to live in a city centre, or can you live more rural?

most hosts live in cities, and/or with good transport links

@Maireas

Do you work full-time as a teacher? Would you plan on retiring and continue to develop your role?

Yes I am a full time teacher, but will be retiring within the next 2 years, and might well develop the role, yes. I am possibly interested in becoming more politically active, mostly to prioritise housing, but I am not sure how to do this effectively

Has anything really surprised you about any of your guests?

Thank you for what you do - and for explaining.

I teach aduls in a FE college and many of them died here from war torn countries.

Lots are professionals - teachers, doctors, scientists, nurses etc in their home countries who can bring good to our societies if allowed to settle in peace. Others were just starting out but have so much potential.