Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

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:
Cattenberg · 11/03/2022 09:25

I can’t as we’re stuffed to the gunnels. When my sister came to visit last week, she had to sleep in a hotel. If I had a spare room and more than one toilet, I like to think I’d do it.

Lovelydovey · 11/03/2022 09:25

We don’t have a spare room and also both wfh in confidential occupations (working on the kitchen table and in a bedroom). So afraid not. If we had more space then I’d consider it.

SickAndTiredAgain · 11/03/2022 09:25

No. At a different time maybe, but I’m giving birth in May, and we have a toddler. We couldn’t have a stranger as well.

Juno22 · 11/03/2022 09:26

In reality I believe a lot of people are saying they will but when it comes down to it they won't. I know that probably makes me seem a bit cynical but I think it's easy for people to talk about it but they won't actually do it.

Lovemusic33 · 11/03/2022 09:26

No, we only have a tiny house and no space, plus I have teens with SN’s. My parents live in big houses with several spare rooms, they keep spouting off about supporting Ukraine but 2/3 years ago they were also voting to be out of the EU and demanding Ukrainian’s and Polish should go home, I’m sure the won’t be offering their empty rooms to refugees 😞. I wish I could do more to help, if I had the space I would offer it and I hope people do offer rooms for refugees.

Firstshoes · 11/03/2022 09:26

Granny floating in garden GrinGrin

Birchtree1 · 11/03/2022 09:27

Yes! We will! I find some of the comments and reasonings quite harsh on here. Those are people who are shot at and bombed. They have gone through huge trauma and need somewhere to go. Particularly the children. I have 2 children. Just imagine if you were in this situation!

DowntonCrabby · 11/03/2022 09:27

We don’t have space but I’d have taken a Mum & child in a heartbeat.

Franklin12 · 11/03/2022 09:27

I think its easy to say I will do it, thinking about it etc but in the end they wont do it. Dont have a spare room, not fair on our children, not feeling well, just about to have a baby, DH doesnt want me to do it.

I honestly think few will actually do it.

Madhairday · 11/03/2022 09:28

Yes. We have a large spare room and could put up a little family and we will if the scheme allows. Money could be an issue though so we'll see what the scheme says.

I would just hope if it was us people would be kind enough to help. I know it's not easy, and I'm disabled so it's harder but we are at the time of life with young adults at uni/leaving home and we have room.

Spudlet · 11/03/2022 09:28

@Ellaraine

Yes,we have a separate granny floating our garden so happy to house a family.
That’s climate change for you 😂
Clarice99 · 11/03/2022 09:28

No.

DameHelena · 11/03/2022 09:28

I feel awful saying no, but I think I will have to say no. We've a spacious flat and live in London, a nice lively area, probably with relatively decent job opportunities. But we only have one bathroom for three adults and two of us wfh all week. It's not 'crowded' as such but we are around a lot. Plus the box room, which is the only realistic place people could sleep, is currently my office, so I'd have to either have a desk in my bedroom or perch at the kitchen table to work (not ideal as the other person works in that part of the flat and does a lot of calls).
There's expense as well; bills going up is hitting us. And we'd have to get a new bed/sofabed for the room.
OTOH, I've been imagining what I'd do if any of the Ukrainian people I know asked if I could put up their family member/friend; I can't imagine saying no to them.

ChoiceMummy · 11/03/2022 09:28

@musicalfrog

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?

What evidence do you have that so many people want to make a tangible difference and that this group isn't just most vocal?

I wouldn't no. And I don't know anyone who would. The only who'd suggest it is if they'd get paid rent and could rent their home out at even more favourable rates than they get on Airbnb!

Zonder · 11/03/2022 09:28

6 months is such a long time to sign up for. We have friends in the EU who are doing it but you only sign up for 3 weeks then the government take responsibility and house them. I would definitely do that.

Ellaraine · 11/03/2022 09:29

GrinGrinGrinGrinGrin

toomuchlaundry · 11/03/2022 09:29

Love the idea of a floating granny @Ellaraine

DetailMouse · 11/03/2022 09:29

I think it's very telling that the vast majority of responses are "I'd love to but because of xyz I couldn't" or "seriously considering but...."

I expect the stats for take up of this scheme will show that people don't actually want to help as much as they said they did.

FlyingGeeseAgain · 11/03/2022 09:29

I just can’t see how this would work at all. Different languages so couldn’t communicate. The refugees will have no money so can’t go out or do anything. Are they going to sit in your house all day with nothing to do? Evenings spent trying to watch TV with people who are traumatised and don’t understand what they’re watching?
Traumatised young children who are bored and frightened in a stranger’s home?
How is cooking going to work or meal times?
It’s a logistical nightmare.
We don’t have the space, but it just wouldn’t work for us on any level.

Wintersbone · 11/03/2022 09:30

@Alondra No. For a lot of us humanity will win. It won't be a picnic but imagine if it was you and your kids? I don't see any other option but to offer as we have the space.

Ijsbear · 11/03/2022 09:31

Not UK but we have a self-contained granny flat in the garden and we've registered. Still waiting to hear back apart from the acknowledgement mail!

Ijsbear · 11/03/2022 09:31

I will admit I'm a bit nervous.

Tombero · 11/03/2022 09:32

No, I’m always delighted at the end of a short visit from friends and family to get my house back. Im giving items and money and would be happy to volunteer somewhere. I wish I was, but I’m just not altruistic enough to share my home.

Skyblueclouds77 · 11/03/2022 09:33

I would definitely want to but we only have a small box room spare but if one person needed it then yes.

Snailhaterz2 · 11/03/2022 09:34

I'm thinking about it as I have a big spare room and a guest bathroom. But I'm a working from home introvert so am trying to get past that. I also don't live in a big town/city, which I understand might make it unattractive. However, there is a small Ukranian community here and the town is very compassionate, so I thought I might wait and see if anything is organised at local level (including a call-out for rooms) and get involved then.

Swipe left for the next trending thread