to not want to give a bed to a homeless person for the night in my house?

[CalicoBlue]

Depaul Nightstop

On the news this afternoon Depaul were talking about their host families who offer a bed for the night for a homeless person. The family on the news had two children and said they had been hosts for a while.

I do feel that we should do more for charity and helping those in need. Is it a step too far to open up your home?

My initial though was yes, but as I thought about it I changed my mind and thought of all the problems that could occur.

Am I being unreasonable? Would you do it?

Offer your home or don't offer your home, it's totally your choice. No unreasonableness either way.

They do all the matching - thought it was a great idea myself and that young lass running from an arranged marriage was really in need

I'm definitely going to do it

i wouldn't do it.
particularly if i was a woman living alone or had young children.

I wouldn't, just too risky IMO.

Of course YANBU for not wanting to do this. Personally I wouldn't be prepared to have anyone I didn't know well to stay in my home, especially whilst my DC are young. That's not because I believe that anyone who finds themselves homeless is likely to be anymore of a risk to my family than anyone else. I do think the scheme sounds good though and I'd admire people who do open their homes in this way. Once my own DC are older I would like to foster but if I'm being honest this programme would be outside of my comfort zone.

YANBU at all to not do it, there are lots of other ways to help, by volunteering or donating/raising money for various charities.

Having said that, I think it's a wonderful idea, and am now considering doing it myself. I hadn't heard of the scheme, so am really pleased that you posted the link- thanks!

So if you or anyone did do it, that's also NU!

Lovely that you are wanting to do something positive. It doesn't have to be this though.

I would not do this unless I was fully confident that the charity/agency had fully vetted the person which is not likely to be the case due to the circumstances.

So no. Security of my family trumps all.

Gosh, for me it would totally depend on why they were homeless and vulnerable.

Even then I think I'd be too worried to sleep with a complete stranger in my house.

I would totally it If we had a spare room but it's a personal call. No one is U either way.

I live alone so I'd be wary about having complete strangers sleep in my house. Come to think of it I'd probably be wary even if I didn't live alone.

I don't think I would do it.

Do they check the people who are volunteering their homes? I'd hope they are thoroughly vetted, too.

YANBU, OP.

My mother did this for a while after I'd left home. Think she only had teens or young adults though.

I wouldn't do it, I wouldn't feel comfortable. I do contribute to homeless charities though. I'm not overly keen on having people I know stay over if I'm honest.

This thread made me think of all the Mumsnet threads where millions of posters won't let the meter reader into the house as its too much of an invasion.

I do something like this but a bit more long-term. For young pregnant women. It's a big ask and I have background on homelessness and SW so I have more of an idea of needs/risks. We can have women leaving addictions, offending past, still on probation, leaving DV. DH was VERY worried about it but he's completely on board now.

DD (4 yo) BTW loves the girls we get. I also know a lot of the street homeless people in town and she chats to them as well. I can guarantee that most of them would protect every hair on her head from harm. I get that people think it's a massive risk but we haven't found it so. I know all the care families here and some have been doing this for over a decade without any scary incidents.

We are getting a new girl soon!

Thanks for the link OP, I'm going to do it.

DP works in a hostel. We had a vulnerable pg woman stop with us while we sorted benefits and emergency accommodation through the council (had a 2 week wait for a room).

My MILs church did something like this over Christmas. She put down mine and DHs name to hoyse a homeless man for 3 days and 2 nights.
Needless to say she didnt bother doing it herself.
Dh told her to take our names off the list.

My MILs church did something like this over Christmas. She put down mine and DHs name to hoyse a homeless man for 3 days and 2 nights.
Needless to say she didnt bother doing it herself.
Dh told her to take our names off the list.

Well, I must say I admire people who are able to do this, but it just wouldn't be something I would be at all comfortable with.

I wish I could say I didn't feel that way, but it would make me very nervous indeed. Maybe I would be better to help by other means (donations etc.) as I am not really cut out for this type of hands on practical stuff.