Where will the refugees coming to the UK live?

[Meeklynamechanged]

In no way a goady thread, I fully support helping the people fleeing such horrid circumstances, but genuine question.. where will they live? Where do we put people?

Where I live we have people waiting 10 years for a council property. Most areas around the UK have a huge deficit in available housing that doesn't meet demand.

With so many families stuck in overcrowded hostels and B&B's, families of 5 in 1 bed flats, I can't see where all of the required the housing will come from?

I had a feeling that Councils had to rehome some refugees over local people as an urgent priority? Wherever they go it means they will be safe from harm . If people have a spare room and feel able to host that is good as well .

What annoys me is that suddenly we are taking all these people when just weeks ago the govt was refusing to take interpreters that had helped the British army and were in danger. And then suddenly, yet again a massive sudden u turn. And why the hell are we not prioritising women and children, particularly teenage girls who are particularly vulnerable? Because honestly, there are many people who would take in a young girl into their own homes to help protect them. But who wants to take in strange men? So of course it falls to social housing.

[quote wonkylegs]@EmbarrassingAdmissions
They are converting them, in fact planning law changed to enable this. The problem is that often these conversions by bypassing planning are not necessarily fit for purpose (some have been converted to windowless bedsits which is entirely legal but really unpleasant)
It takes time and resources to convert them and at the moment there are global construction material shortages (multi factorial reasons for this current industry crisis) so construction is slow/stopped and costing a lot lot more than usual. I expect conversions will for the immediate future be limited to those that can recoup some of those conversion costs.
Shops/commercial buildings are often not insulated to the same standards as homes and need upgrades in plumbing and electrics so it's not just a matter of throwing up some walls. [/quote]
I'd like to see a number of the original buildings demolished rather than converted.

I live somewhere notorious for placing homeless or at risk people in badly converted office buildings etc. However, I look at the disused army barracks where asylum seekers are housed and I can't make that judgment call on behalf of desperate people.

I'd much prefer proper housing to be built in these spaces.

I've no idea how well, or not, the hotel industry is picking up. I'd think there may be spaces throughout the UK that might be repurposed as some were during Covid.

I want people housed - and I want them vaccinated for Covid.

@Puzzledandpissedoff

It’s easy to sit here and posture about letting out your spare room and basking in those good feelings about how wonderful you are

Especially when done from behind a keyboard, knowing perfectly well you'll never be called upon to do whatever it is being "offered"

As I mentioned on another thread I've chaired so many meetings like this, where folk shout about what we've GOT to do and insist they'll be right there in the front line ... only come the day they're nowhere to be seen

Yep! This.

Regarding homeless being alcoholics. My housing manager once spoke about this. You lose your house for many reasons, you sofa surf for months until friends and family say so more, you sleep on the streets, it’s freezing and dangerous. You drink alcohol to stay warm and numb the pain and deprivation and sorrow. You lose your job as you cannot shower and iron your shirts. You drink more, you regularly get beaten up by locals, you drink more.

Meghan and Harry could give up Frogmore as it's currently sat empty.

But we should still abolish the monarchyand reform housing law for a fairer society, for the sake of UK citizens, even if we never see a refugee again.
Hear, hear. We need sweeping levels of WW2 and WW2 reform; (including compulsory purchasing of second homes and holiday homes).

Unfortunately the climate emergency is going to create many millions of displaced people, very soon, and the UK, as one of the regions best placed to withstand climate change, is going to need to be prepared for many many more refugees in the coming years. A few thousand Afghans is a drop in the rising ocean. Hopefully some of the shameful attitudes on this thread will have changed by then.

Regarding homeless being alcoholics. My housing manager once spoke about this.

Similarly the vulnerability to drug taking.

There was some amazing 'inclusion medicine' happening for homeless people during COVID–19 and some projects that were pulled together in remarkably short order. The results from them were eye-opening in a number of ways - and further highlights how multiple disadvantages and vulnerabilities explode into addictions and public health problems.

@PenCreed

We're lucky enough to have have two spare rooms, we offer one of them to refugees and have done for a few years now. They get the support and help from the agencies that place them, all we have to do is make small talk and occasionally feed them.

There are at least two charities that do it.
Room for Refugees: www.roomforrefugees.com
Refugees at Home: www.refugeesathome.org

We're on a break at the moment as we hosted two people (one after the other) through lockdowns and it was a bit intense, plus we need to do some work on the house, but will be hosting again later in the year.

You are an amazing and wonderful person.

@CutePanda

They will be sent to the North or Midlands, as per usual. They won’t stay in the south or other countries in the UK. The thing is, the last few governments haven’t done anything to improve resources and amenities for a growing population (we need more schools, hospitals, dentists, GP surgeries, better road layouts etc). Nor have they clamped down on buy to let property owners (not many affordable housing options on the market).

Already nearly all the local authorities in Wales have offered places. It was on the local News yesterday. I'm not sure that putting one, two or three families in each county is good for them as it offers them very little peer support but it's definitely not as you said.

[quote supermoonrising]@wednesdayweather
True, but it’s also true the Taliban arose from the fanatical mujahideen which was directly funded and supported by the CIA.

You could also say that the failure to secure the peace a whole two decades post Western invasion, lack of strategy and end game, made the Talibans job a lot easier.

Of course it’s not “all the west’s fault”. But if you invade an entire fucking country and start dropping thousands of bombs on cities, you better have a really good fucking plan. Scampering out with tail between legs amid airport carnage in 2021 isn’t quite that.[/quote]
But the fanatical mujahideen had to already exist to be funded. The problem is one of fundamentalist Islamism.

And the West didn't invade 'an entire fucking country' for no reason. There was an appalling terrorist atrocity that was inevitably going to cause a violent reaction from the country attacked. The people who flew planes into buildings full of citizens would have known that and bear responsibility for the attack and its consequences.

Afghanistan made enormous progress under the peace supported by the West, and the West deserves some credit for that. I abhor the way America has bailed out in such a short time frame.

But lets have a bit more balance here about where respective responsibilities lie.

@EmbarrassingAdmissions demolition often isn't necessary or preferable in environmental terms (a lot of perfectly serviceable structures with some proper alteration work) but minimum standards are necessary and mainly non existent.
There is quite a bit of campaigning to make minimum standards for space, infrastructure and natural light a legal requirement. I suspect most people think they already are and think that's what building regs are about but they aren't and that's where these substandard conversions occur.
Environmental health have managed to block a few or close them down but central government have consistently made it easier for companies to place profit over people.

We’ve been signed up to rooms for refugees for a while, there are other things you can do though.

Refugees only receive £35 per week, they are often housed in really awful conditions, so providing certain goods can be very beneficial, toiletries, bedding, clothing, things to do, board games etc, childrens toys, basic kitchen equipment.

If you have a branch of or know a volunteer with Khalsa aid they will happily take donations. Speak to your local foodbank as well, they often have links to other charities who provide practical support.

@ferretface

Meanwhile London is stuffed full of expensive, empty investment properties which contributes to the domestic housing shortage. We should stop courting billionaires and tax exiles and build houses for normal people to live in.

Totally agree.

I'd love to see whole developments built with GP surgeries, schools and outdoor space and a finance opportunity if 0% deposit and low rate or zero rate mortgage. (Perhaps malt gage can only be paid privately and no HB)

I believe if you give people hope and a chance it inspires them to do more. So many people feel trapped and that they'll never own etc and it does have an affect.

There are place with excess housing, I'm in Wolverhampton and a few of my neighbours were moved from London, they basically were offered at least the same number of bedrooms and their moving expenses, I'm not sure if they had a cash incentive as well.

My neighbour directly behind me swapped a 3 bed flat in London for 3 bed, 2 living rooms and a huge garden.

There are other places too, some old religious accommodation. Where my father lives what was 3 parishes is now one with a priest who travels between the churches, all three had houses so one is being prepped to house refugees and I can't remember what the second one is going to be used for.

Meghan and Harry could give up Frogmore as it's currently sat empty.

I think Eugenie's there but the royal family do have multiple homes that could be used.

@EmbarrassingAdmissions

London is going to be full of empty shops in prime real estate areas. Either pull some down and build or get busy converting.

That will take time.... and where does this money suddenly come from

I'd also like to point out ( I work in the building retail trade) that basic building supplies are IN VERY SHORT SUPPLY and have been for a while. It will be impossible to obtain cement, bricks, drainage, elects for a lot of these proposed conversions

@gogohm

It varies. There have been schemes where communities "adopt" refugees so towns can ask for families and source a suitable property, furniture etc (we took 10 Syrian families, placed into homes owned by sympathetic landlords, churches collected furniture, winter clothing, school uniforms etc and provided English lessons for the adults plus mentoring). Others are in housing arranged by contractors eg g4s normally in areas with surplus housing, it might surprise Londoners but theres boarded up houses up north!

That's brilliant.

I hope we get more scheme like that.

In the greater scheme of things 20,000 out of a population of 66m is actually quite a small number. If adults in the household can speak English, they can start work quickly given the UK announced yesterday that we currently have a record number of vacancies. As a result, whilst tax payer support is certainly initially required it is unlikely to be long term and over a lifetime a skilled refugee will pay back in tax many times what they receive as will their children. Here in Norfolk, quite a detailed plan was worked out to support Syrian refugees with support from UEA and local community groups. It is heart breaking to have to leave your country, but you would be surprised how quickly people adapt and in my experience, the work ethic of refugees is very high.

It is a worry that all these figures for taking in people are banded about , but the infrastructure is already failing and there is a lack of all types of skilled workers to build more homes , let alone home the people that need a place to live that will need water and food and health care and money. Waiting lists for accommodation is already long. This will only make things worse.
Politicians do not tend to live in places that are already overcrowded and fighting for resources.
I bet a few rich celebs will offer to take in some people, then go oddly quiet.
It is awful to be fleeing for your life, but the UK already has people waiting for a home and somewhere safe to live and the population will only go up and up too. I haven't the answers , but with a lack of space and money already it is a worrying prospect.

Good question.

I don’t mind donating money
However there’s no way Id have a complete stranger living with me. I don’t know who these people are or if they’ve got a criminal past.
I’m only going to say this once because I feel I have to but Let’s not for get about the millions of homeless on the streets of Britain many ex Army. I dont see anyone offering spare rooms to them.

Who are all these people exactly? UK takes in VERY few refugees comparatively.

Turkey with 3+ million refugees on its soil and likely to have an influx from Afghanistan could legitimately ask this question. Bangladesh with 1 million + refugees from Myanmar. Uganda with millions of refugees from South Sudan, DRC and others, sure.

But UK can easily accommodate 20,000 refugees. It's jsut a question of will.

@Bunnyfuller

How about we look more closely at those in the council houses that originally got them due to circumstances which are no longer relevant, yet they’re still taking up accommodation.

Which they are fully entitled to do, so why would be taking a closer look at them?

I’m only going to say this once because I feel I have to but Let’s not for get about the millions of homeless on the streets of Britain many ex Army. I dont see anyone offering spare rooms to them.

There are NOT "millions of homeless on the streets of Britain", ffs.