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Original poster

Will you be opening your home up to Ukrainian refugees?

999 replies

musicalfrog · 11/03/2022 08:03

Interested to see how popular this will be considering so many of us want desperately to make a tangible difference.

My OH wouldn't be up for it I don't think, and we don't have a spare room so I will avoid that particular argument. But otherwise I think it would be such a great thing to do.

The govt is asking for a minimum commitment of 6 months. Will you be signing up?

OP posts:
Lovinglavidaloca · 12/03/2022 20:56

I really wish we had the space

Cactuslove · 12/03/2022 20:57

@Blossomtoes

The Government are relying yet again on the willingness of the British people.

When did the government last rely on the willingness of the British people?

When they froze pay across the public sector, underfunded the public sector and generally rely on the goodwill of burnt out underpaid and under valued workers doing above and beyond their hours. Oh and our willingness to follow the rules they themselves repeatedly broke.
Parker231 · 12/03/2022 20:57

Thankfully other countries are looking after the refugees. As well as huge numbers being looked after in Poland, in Berlin people turned up at the station offering for refugees to share their homes.

user468375484 · 12/03/2022 20:58

Currently I've no spare room, but I'm trying to move at the moment and hope to have one then.

I've had lodgers in the past and have enjoyed it - I'm still in touch with some. One international student I literally picked up from the airport and helped her settle into the UK. It can't be too much different from that really, albeit without the financial recompense.

Of course it's not just Ukrainians who need help. I'd be most likely to go through an organisation that offers some support like
refugeesathome.org/

MimosaSunrise · 12/03/2022 20:59

Nobody is ‘expected’ to take in anyone! It’s a scheme for those who can and are willing.

I do think it’s a shame to insist that hotels and caravans are better than homes. I work near a hotel that is used to house asylum seekers and it’s in the middle of nowhere. You see people walking close to the motorway to get to the nearest convenience store. How can people integrate with the community under these conditions?

My problem is with the minimum period. I’ve heard six and also twelve months. Six months we could just about consider, twelve is a non-starter. We’re planning to move in the near future and, while we could put it off a bit to accommodate this, that is more than a bit. Seems like it’s an obstacle that will stop a lot of spare rooms - and welcoming homes instead of hotel rooms - being offered.

I hope other schemes will become available - am sure there were schemes for Afghan refugees whereby you could give emergency accommodation for short periods. Obviously, they would not be relying on you as a host to be in the country, though, and it was charities organising it rather than the government.

HELLITHURT · 12/03/2022 20:59

@User9805637

Where are all the 2nd home owners, they could easily house families with hardly any inconvenience
Depends if they've got those homes already rented, they'd have to evict those people.
BigPurpleEgg · 12/03/2022 20:59

My mum is applying, she has a spare room with en suite which would fit a woman and child, possibly 2 children at a push. I wouldn't have a stranger living with my kids but I will definitely help support them in any way I can in my mums. She had already looked into it when there was in influx of afghan refugees but she wouldn't have a man in the house and they seemed to be mostly men or families including a man in our area.

MimosaSunrise · 12/03/2022 21:00

Nobody is ‘expected’ to take in anyone! It’s a scheme for those who can and are willing.

This was for @User9805637

TheJade · 12/03/2022 21:10

We done have any spare room at our home, it’s a squeeze as it is.

If I had more room I would consider it - however I believe OH would be against it! X

veevee04 · 12/03/2022 21:13

No as I have DD and I think having strangers move in would be a safeguarding risk. If I was loaded and had a spare property yes.

Lem1984 · 12/03/2022 21:16

No. I do not want strangers living in my home.

Jaymar · 12/03/2022 21:20

Yes we are going to apply. We can offer a couple of rooms in our home which is in a city. We have a 4 month old baby and we are on parental leave so between us we can hopefully provide good integration support. I hope that if the tables were turned someone would do the same for us.

FrownedUpon · 12/03/2022 21:22

Yes, we’re offering our spare room. We only have one bathroom though which isn’t ideal. I honestly can’t just sit and watch this unfold on TV & not offer to help.

PortalooSunset · 12/03/2022 21:26

No spare room here and only one bathroom so we won't be able to. I know someone who is planning to though also know people with spare homes never mind rooms who wouldn't even consider it, fuckers

Sushiii · 12/03/2022 21:27

No. If my circumstances were different then yes, but:

  1. I live alone and would not be comfortable having people I don’t know in the house.
  2. I work from home so cannot picture how this could work.
  3. I have an dog who is nervous/unpredictable around strange people.
Joystir59 · 12/03/2022 21:34

@Sushiii

No. If my circumstances were different then yes, but:
  1. I live alone and would not be comfortable having people I don’t know in the house.
  2. I work from home so cannot picture how this could work.
  3. I have an dog who is nervous/unpredictable around strange people.
Ditto for all the same reasons
Hesma · 12/03/2022 21:35

I would if I could but has a single mum to two DDs with no spare room I can’t

Comeoverfordrinks · 12/03/2022 21:36

No I wouldn’t. I am happy to help in other ways but I have children and I wouldn’t be comfortable doing this.

We have so many people in need in our own country and we don’t all open our doors to them - why is this any different. So many people homeless. Mother’s and children in b&b accommodation - why aren’t we asked to house them.

I hope this is construed as being a race issues because it really isn’t for me - it’s about the safety of inviting a stranger into your home when you have children.

Comeoverfordrinks · 12/03/2022 21:37

@Comeoverfordrinks

No I wouldn’t. I am happy to help in other ways but I have children and I wouldn’t be comfortable doing this.

We have so many people in need in our own country and we don’t all open our doors to them - why is this any different. So many people homeless. Mother’s and children in b&b accommodation - why aren’t we asked to house them.

I hope this is construed as being a race issues because it really isn’t for me - it’s about the safety of inviting a stranger into your home when you have children.

Oh gosh type. I hope this isn’t construed as being a race issue!!!!!
HELLITHURT · 12/03/2022 21:39

@Comeoverfordrinks

No I wouldn’t. I am happy to help in other ways but I have children and I wouldn’t be comfortable doing this.

We have so many people in need in our own country and we don’t all open our doors to them - why is this any different. So many people homeless. Mother’s and children in b&b accommodation - why aren’t we asked to house them.

I hope this is construed as being a race issues because it really isn’t for me - it’s about the safety of inviting a stranger into your home when you have children.

Yes your correct this is construed as being a race issue!

Mothers and babies in b&bs have accommodation, the refugees don't have that currently.

DdraigGoch · 12/03/2022 21:41

@guhjof

No. I know I sound selfish and a little shit but no I won't do that - I couldn't live with anyone I didn't know. I would be anxious and paranoid in my own home.
I struggle to tolerate living with anyone I do know. House shares when I was younger really wound me up, when my parents (who I do get on with) visit I find myself taking myself off for a few hours of alone time.

I want to help but am hesitant to put myself forward in this way.

Comeoverfordrinks · 12/03/2022 21:44

Have you seen the accommodation they are living in? It’s hell on earth. I’m not saying for a minute it’s as bad as living through war, but it is still awful. Then we have all of the people on the streets. They don’t have a home?

I’m not saying people shouldn’t offer homes to Ukrainians - far from it. If people feel able to then this is wonderful. But there is a part of me that feels that there are double standards. We have so many people in need on our door step but we can’t offer them a safe place.

It just makes me sad. It doesn’t make Ukrainians any less deserving of course, and what they are going through is horrendous but I just wonder why we can’t do more to help people living in horrendous circumstances all of the time.

But that is not the point of the thread so I will bow out.

garlictwist · 12/03/2022 21:44

My other half is very keen for us to do this. I've agreed to it because I think it's the right thing to do but I am secretly hoping we don't get picked as I don't really like people and like my own space.

daytriptovulcan · 12/03/2022 21:48

I can't open my home, but will do what I can, like demanding action from my MP and making donations.
Long Live Ukraine!🇺🇦

LadyPropane · 12/03/2022 21:48

No because I don't want strangers in the house with my young DC.

I will gladly help in other ways.