Will you be opening up your home to Refugees? Part 2

[Aslockton]

I found the previous thread very interesting. Let's continue the conversation...

I signed up with Refugees at Home back in September to take in Afghan refugees.

We live 40 mins from London in a city with a cathedral, university, medical school and teaching hospital, over 12 secondary schools and fast train links to central London, so hardly rural.

We filled in all the forms, took photos of the house and the bedrooms available (there are 2 of us in a big 4 bed house), yet we never heard anything back. We found out yesterday that Afghan families have been put up in a motel on a local duel carriageway instead... bonkers!

We had all the good intentions to help those in need (at our own expense) and will offer again. Whether our offer will be taken up, is another thing.

@Oldowl

We had the same experience with Refugees at Home- completed all the paperwork, put forward referees for vetting, etc, and they never got back to me. I even called to follow up. I live in a regional city with walking distance to the high street, excellent public transport links and a good rail station 0.6 km away. We also had two double rooms and a spare bathroom to offer

This time we will still apply as I want to be able to help

Just to clarify- we signed up with Refugees at home in response to the Syrian refugee crisis and a few years ago. It is so odd that they didn’t contact us. I wondered if they preferred families that don’t already have young children.

The scheme really is not what it is made out to be. I just heard on the radio that people will need to be able to name the refugee they wish to house. So it is only Ukrainians who already know someone in the UK willing to house them who will be able to benefit from this scheme.

If this is true, it is a disgrace.

It's a load of bullshit. What about the hundreds of Afghan refugees still in hotels? Where are they going? What about terrified, lone teenagers washed up on beaches? Who's "housing" these? But no.... let's hang out the nationalistic bunting for people who look scarily like our neighbours, instead.

@Fritilleries

It's a load of bullshit. What about the hundreds of Afghan refugees still in hotels? Where are they going? What about terrified, lone teenagers washed up on beaches? Who's "housing" these? But no.... let's hang out the nationalistic bunting for people who look scarily like our neighbours, instead.

Don't worry. Despite all the grandstanding, it looks like the government will make it almost as difficult for Ukrainians to come here as anyone else.

In seriousness, I do think you make a good point, but that shouldn't negate the fact that people want to help Ukrainians. That is a good thing.

Individuals acting as sponsors will be able to nominate a named Ukrainian individual or family to stay with them rent-free in their home, or in a separate property, for six months

Sponsors won't be required to know them in advance - they might find them, for example, through posts on social media

This from the BBC.

So not many elderly women then... unless they are instagram influencers in their spare time.

@Aslockton - what you haven't seen all the shared posts of families and people describing themselves that are looking for places to stay? They are regular people who can use social media, like everyone on Mumsnet. Even 'elderly women'.