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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:
implantreplace · 11/03/2022 09:50

@Woollystockings
To be fair
“Staying” as a guest
And shared renters

Is very different

SilverHairedCat · 11/03/2022 09:50

We have a spare room and are considering it. We'd also like to offer to take in kids who are unaccompanied / from a refuge / from an orphanage if we're considered suitable.

Bringsexyback · 11/03/2022 09:50

Id rather pay for them to stay in a hotel tbh

Kay00 · 11/03/2022 09:51

We're considering it. We have a recently decorated spare room (in addition to our guest bedroom) on a different floor to our bedroom. We're both professionals working hybrid, no kids, but two large dogs. We live in the centre of a small city so plenty of access to services.

The only issue is we will soon be ripping out our crappy kitchen, and fully renovating the downstairs which will be quite disruptive, and could potentially be loud with a lot of banging.

Lilac57 · 11/03/2022 09:53

I would consider it if it was really necessary. We have the space, and we live in London so job opportunities for them would be there. I feel like if people like us don't do it, who would? We're in a good position to if there's a real shortage of hosts, but I think it is more appropriate for people without children themselves. But then I remember family friends taking in refugees from Bosnia when I was at primary school, the children went to school with us, they were our friends, and those who stayed in the UK are still our friends. As a child it felt like the right thing to do for the community to welcome them, for the families who could offer accomodation to do so, and they must have the same concerns that I have now. I'd certainly hope that if we were ever in the same awful situation we'd be similarly welcome. I'll talk to my DH about it, but maybe.

Alondra · 11/03/2022 09:54

It’s normal for people to live with strangers. People live in house shares or have lodgers all the time. In fact, most people I know live in this sort of setup

For people who are used to share their house with strangers, accepting Ukranian refugees are not a big deal. For many of us, including me who have not shared my house in 40 years, it's a big deal.

SwordBilledHummingbird · 11/03/2022 09:54

@CharSiu

No because I have disabilities and have some days where I am really very unwell.
Same here.
AlternativePerspective · 11/03/2022 09:55

Thing is, will there be a vetting process? Because right now what people are seeing is that there are desperate people fleeing from Ukraine which of course is true. But we know nothing about these people. What are they like? What kind of baggage do they bring with them? Do any of them have criminal pasts? What if they discipline their children in a way which sits uncomfortably with you, smacking for instance?

Also as I said before most people are saying that they could house a woman and a child. But in most cases it will be more than one. So how many people have space for a mother and 2/3/more children?

implantreplace · 11/03/2022 09:55

I have a very good friend who has a business In Ukraine and operates there for decades (doesn’t live there)

He says that unless family connections - the overwhelming majority would choose many many other countries before even considering the UK

So I’d wager that there really won’t be a need for people to open their homes!

Shadowmallow · 11/03/2022 09:56

I would if I could. But I live in a shared, rented flat.

Went to visit my partner's parents on the south coast the other day. They live in a town full of hundreds of HUGE houses (some with different wings!) with one or two retirees knocking around in them. While discussing Ukraine, we brought the idea up and was met with an awkward excuses. The community is generally very conservative, snooty, anti immigration and pro Brexit and most wouldn't entertain the idea. Meanwhile posting on FB how sad they are about the situation. Makes me desperately sad as they're ideally placed to support people entering via Calais.

cittigirl · 11/03/2022 09:56

I would if I had the space and was on my own.

TebayOrNotTebay · 11/03/2022 09:57

Im talking to DH about it but honesty why the hell should individuals/families have to find space in their homes? Why can’t the govt pay to rent houses/hotels to accommodate these poor people properly?

AlternativePerspective · 11/03/2022 09:57

Also, what happens if things don’t work out? What happens if e.g. their children bully your children? if the adults turn out to be unpleasant people you just can’t live with? Will there be a way of backing out given you have to commit to 6 months?

implantreplace · 11/03/2022 09:58

@Shadowmallow

I would if I could. But I live in a shared, rented flat.

Went to visit my partner's parents on the south coast the other day. They live in a town full of hundreds of HUGE houses (some with different wings!) with one or two retirees knocking around in them. While discussing Ukraine, we brought the idea up and was met with an awkward excuses. The community is generally very conservative, snooty, anti immigration and pro Brexit and most wouldn't entertain the idea. Meanwhile posting on FB how sad they are about the situation. Makes me desperately sad as they're ideally placed to support people entering via Calais.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a retired couple or indeed anyone deciding NOT to have a stranger come and live with us

This should not become yet another issue to result in judgement and criticism of peoples choices

Mummyoflittledragon · 11/03/2022 09:59

I’m disabled and too ill. If I were well, things would be different. I need to be alone to function and cannot be responsible for more people.

Loudhousefun · 11/03/2022 09:59

Would love to but have had some negative experiences when inviting people into my home in the past, theft was one of them.

AuntieMorag · 11/03/2022 10:00

If we had a spare room, sure. But 3 kids in a 3 bedroom (with third bedroom so small it doesn't take a normal sized bed!), an open plan downstairs and only one bathroom/toilet, it's just not doable.

PeaceForUkraine · 11/03/2022 10:01

I want to - I have a spare room as I do respite fostering.
I couldn’t afford to provide for them though so it would depend on the details.

DomesticatedZombie · 11/03/2022 10:01

Well, I need to discuss it with partner later. But yes, probably.

Loudhousefun · 11/03/2022 10:01

Constant stream of bad language around my children was another. Come to think of it I never want to do it again Angry

HazelBite · 11/03/2022 10:02

Hmm, we have 2 spare rooms BUT, one of my adult sons plus his wife live with us and use one of the larger rooms as a sitting room, I won't go into their circumstances on here, but as things stand it wouldn't be in their best interests.
We could house an accompanied child or teenager as I am retired and my DIL is a teacher, so we could be fairly supportive. I would be quite happy for the local authority to pop a caravan beside my house to house a family if they could

DomesticatedZombie · 11/03/2022 10:02

20 years ago we had a Croatian refugee live in our cupboard. History is just one damn thing after another.

BooksAndHooks · 11/03/2022 10:03

No we don’t have enough space for us really so not an option but it’s not something O would be able to do even if we had space due to additional needs of my children and the added costs.

LaingsAcidTab · 11/03/2022 10:04

Yes.

HazelBite · 11/03/2022 10:04

Her Maj is leaving Buckingham Palace......you could house several families in there!