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Original poster

Are you thinking of taking in Ukrainians?

128 replies

Lostmyname · 14/03/2022 12:18

Came here thinking there would be thread about this, apologies if I've missed it.
We are a family of three with a spare room and I feel like this is something we could do, but am I seeing it through rose-tinted glasses? DH and kids on board with it.

OP posts:
Comedycook · 14/03/2022 17:37

My biggest concern with this scheme is how are they going to safeguard these women and children who are coming over. I worry about all types of unsavoury characters who will be keen to have a vulnerable woman and children in their home. The potential for all sorts of exploitation is concerning. Has this been addressed I wonder?

HaveANiceFuckingDay · 14/03/2022 17:50

I'm just watching something on sky news. You could have one Ukrainian or 6 Ukrainians and you'd only get a one a month thank you payment it's a thank you not to cover extra bills.
A single person council tax discount hasn't been clear when taking an extra person in .
It's not different from fostering and you'd get a lot more money.
The government want people to be able to host for a MINIMUM of 6 months. It's going to take a very long time to sort the conflict
Theres a question about animals/ pets as well which again is unclear. It comes across as a very complicated process as anyone bringing any animal to the U.K is

AlternativePerspective · 14/03/2022 18:04

And surely there needs to be some clarification as to whether the £350 a month will continue after the 6 months? Because it’s unlikely to be only 6 months, and once you have people staying it’s going to be impossible to essentially throw them out if they have nowhere to go.

TimBoothseyes · 14/03/2022 18:05

No

User48751490 · 14/03/2022 19:43

No I wouldn't as I could not offer the psychological support likely needed. Already time pushed with four DC, and have health issues. No spare room. I do like the sentiment but can't imagine it will be easy for host or refugee.

User48751490 · 14/03/2022 19:45

This all comes across like a knee jerk reaction to the crisis. It hasn't been properly thought through.

I agree with your comments AlternativePerspective.

User48751490 · 14/03/2022 19:48

@Comedycook

My biggest concern with this scheme is how are they going to safeguard these women and children who are coming over. I worry about all types of unsavoury characters who will be keen to have a vulnerable woman and children in their home. The potential for all sorts of exploitation is concerning. Has this been addressed I wonder?
It's very concerning. All sorts of unsuitable characters will be wanting to take advantage of this scheme. Hopefully there's vetting going on.
gogohm · 14/03/2022 19:57

We are at work. Up to 4 people

SundayTeatime · 14/03/2022 20:10

A lot of people have signed up so far- about 20,000. There are about 11,000 people who are already registered to host refugees, so whether the 20,000 includes those, or they are an extra 20,000, I’m not sure. Some will already be hosting, I assume.

NegativeNelly · 14/03/2022 21:17

I have room but I am unsure how I will be able to afford to realistically do this. I think I heard we get an incentive of £250 or something per person or per family... could be wrong so feel free to correct me. But it doesn't seem enough when everything is going up bill wise and wages aren't

Dmsandfloatydress · 14/03/2022 21:21

All signed up and ready to go, just like my Polish friends in Warsaw who have welcomed their first family. Delightful people apparently.

Fuckitydoodah · 14/03/2022 21:41

We're seriously considering it. We have a double spare room that could fit a single mattress in too or a cot. A family bathroom they could use and an ensuite for us.

I can think of lots of ifs, buts and maybes but I keep coming back to the fact that these people less than 3 weeks ago were like us, going about their daily lives. Now their lives have been turned upside down in the most horrific way. We could make it work if we really wanted to and I think if we're truly decent people it's the right thing to do. However, I appreciate it isn't doable for many.

SundayTeatime · 14/03/2022 21:51

Wow, 44,000 have now registered to host. I suppose quite a few either won’t be able to, or will be told they’re not suitable, in the end, though.

NandorTheRelentlessCleaner · 14/03/2022 22:03

I don’t think I could or would

Yes, I have a spare room

But this family will live in my home, use our kitchen (or should I cook for them?) use our living room and all of our home.

They’d be in the house all the time as they would not have a job/etc, obviously

So you’d never be just you and your own family

That’s hard

I could not even have my brother and kids live here for 6 months and the kids running around would do my head in when J am working from home (it’s difficult work where I need to concentrate)

I just don’t think I could do it

The stress…

Hugely admire those of you who are easy about having another family live in your home, in your kitchen, and with you being responsible for feeding them, ferrying them around, and the extra bills for everything

£350 does not even touch the sides for hosting a whole family including all their expenses IMO

bigbluebus · 14/03/2022 22:08

DH and I did discuss it the other day. We have a 5 bed 3 bathroom house with only 2 rooms occupied (adult DS moved back in 6 months ago whilst job hunting for a career job). We could afford to suck up any extra expenses, live in a village but with some public transport - although I am at home to support and transport. Pretty sure the local schools would find space for any children. There are even jobs around - albeit minimum wage jobs. But I'm just not quite sure I could do it for 6 months plus. I'd find it difficult to share my home for that long - although my discomfort and inconvenience would be nothing compared to what these Ukrainians have gone through - so I'm torn really.

Justkeeppedaling · 14/03/2022 22:16

44,000 people have registered an interest in hosting in the 5 hours the site has been up!

Justkeeppedaling · 14/03/2022 22:20

@NegativeNelly

I have room but I am unsure how I will be able to afford to realistically do this. I think I heard we get an incentive of £250 or something per person or per family... could be wrong so feel free to correct me. But it doesn't seem enough when everything is going up bill wise and wages aren't

It's only food that costs more really. Heating the house is the same, and it's getting warmer now anyway.

If you're cooking for, say, 4, cooking for 6 doesn't cost much extra. And the refugees will be able to claim benefits so can contribute.
Also, it's £350pcm, tax free, so the equivalent of earning about £450.

Buzzinwithbez · 14/03/2022 22:27

We don't have any extra space, but maybe once the politicians have filled their spare rooms and spare houses we may have to shuffle up too.

Buzzinwithbez · 14/03/2022 22:33

I don't think anyone should commit to 6 months straight off. There needs to be a trial period on both sides. Also will a service be set up to mediate any disputes and re-home people if they're not resolvable?

Buzzinwithbez · 14/03/2022 22:37

@User48751490

This all comes across like a knee jerk reaction to the crisis. It hasn't been properly thought through.

I agree with your comments AlternativePerspective.

This feels very like when the govt asked for NHS volunteers. Was anyone actually called on? In the meantime, people had formed their own community arrangements quite efficiently in some places.
Buzzinwithbez · 14/03/2022 22:51

It's only food that costs more really. Heating the house is the same, and it's getting warmer now anyway.

Food, extra water if on a meter, extra laundry, detergent, power for the washer/dryer, electric in general - especially if the house is usually empty through the day and will now not be. We don't have time to cook meals, so food and cooking facilities will be an extra.
To what extent do you include people as if they're family or do you live as two separate households? Treats? Days out? Takeaways? Etc...I personally could not leave people out, so my children might end up doing less.
It's going to differ so much depending on each circumstance, of course. Some refugee families may have enough savings and this won't be an issue but to others existing on what the govt give them we'd need to think about whether our lifestyle would be a big mismatch and whether you could include the visiting guests in plans or not.

Thursday37 · 14/03/2022 22:58

No.
We don’t have space and WFH with a toddler.
We are also really introverted and it would push us over the edge! We’d be terrible hosts and these people will need better than that.

But the parish is looking at various things to support those that come to the area and we will willingly help with donations of resources and time, transport etc. But we can’t offer a bed.

Theremustbemoretome · 14/03/2022 22:59

@Comedycook

My biggest concern with this scheme is how are they going to safeguard these women and children who are coming over. I worry about all types of unsavoury characters who will be keen to have a vulnerable woman and children in their home. The potential for all sorts of exploitation is concerning. Has this been addressed I wonder?
This. Massive potential for exploitation of vulnerable people. The scammers will be plotting already.

Also, if the refugees will be able to work and yet the majority are women and children, then who is going to pay for childcare? Or after-school care is often hard to find in some areas (which is exactly what we are finding). Realistically most women are likely to remain on benefits long-term.

Thasheblows88 · 14/03/2022 23:03

@bigbluebus

DH and I did discuss it the other day. We have a 5 bed 3 bathroom house with only 2 rooms occupied (adult DS moved back in 6 months ago whilst job hunting for a career job). We could afford to suck up any extra expenses, live in a village but with some public transport - although I am at home to support and transport. Pretty sure the local schools would find space for any children. There are even jobs around - albeit minimum wage jobs. But I'm just not quite sure I could do it for 6 months plus. I'd find it difficult to share my home for that long - although my discomfort and inconvenience would be nothing compared to what these Ukrainians have gone through - so I'm torn really.
I'm exactly the same. It sounds so selfish when people are suffering so much but I am already struggling with dh and young adult dc wfh. I think I could cope with 3 mths but not sure about 6 and it could be longer of course. I want to do it though and think we should.
Buzzinwithbez · 14/03/2022 23:06

Another thought. We have a teenager who often games or practises music into the night and makes middle of the night snacks. We're used to that and mostly sleep through happy teenage noise. A guest family might struggle. The teenagers often need quiet in the mornings as a result.

On the flip side if a visiting family had younger children/babies, that's a different type of noise that we/our kids would struggle with and it would be a different set of waking hours too. Would we sleep through children being distressed in the night? Waking up early as young children do? Tantrums? It's 9 years since we had that sort of thing.
Parenting styles? Could we manage if a guest family were overly harsh or lax, especially if children were doing something that might damage your home, distress your pets etc..