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?

[quote AngryWhompingWillow]@habibibibi

I honestly don't understand the concern here. I mean, if Britain was inviting in millions, or evens hundreds of thousands of refugees, then fine. But 20,000 people? It's TINY. The UK can easily house that number (and we're talking people, not households) and not bat an eyelid. Most people wouldn't even notice.

So why are there so many destitute and homeless people in the UK then? If it's THAT easy to just take in an extra 20,000 people!

What a hugely ignorant and ill-informed comment.[/quote]
Homelessness is not a problem relating to housing stock. It's usually related to mental health, addiction, trauma and institutionalisation.

We could certainly invest more in addressing these issues, but it's not an either - or situation. Go ahead and campaign to get the state to address homelessness. Don't use it as a reason to abandon refugees.

There are many empty offices too many

And empty investment flats

If the government really wanted to tackle the homeless issues and support refuges they could but it will upset a lot of investors that’s why they don’t

Actually, does anyone know how many the USA are taking?

Good question. California and all the liberal lefty bastions

@Firstbornunicorn

I’ve volunteered my spare room. I imagine a lot of people will do the same.

This is amazing! What a selfless thing to do. I didn't even know this was an option.

The only other time I've ever heard someone do this was Deborah Frances-White off The Guilty Feminist podcast who took in a refugee to live with her.

[quote AngryWhompingWillow]@habibibibi

But that is not the demographic profile. First, Afghanistan is a young country with relatively fewer older people. Second, migrants and refugees tend to be younger. Sadly those who are even ABLE to flee will tilt towards younger and healthier. Plus 20,000 people is NOT what is going to topple the NHS. That's government policy!

What a load of absolute rot.

Afghanistan is over 300 years old FFS. And it's been over 100 years since it became totally independent. And even if it was only 30 something years old like some eastern European and ex USSR countries, there would still older generations living there, who lived there before it became what is it is now.

I get sick and tired of people making excuses for most of the people 'saving themselves' almost all being young men. It has naff-all to do with them bringing the women and children later, OR 'not many old people living there...' Anyone who denies that is deluded.[/quote]
Yeah, umm, you know I was talking about demographics? You really seem a bit confused.

@habibibibi

I honestly don't understand the concern here. I mean, if Britain was inviting in millions, or evens hundreds of thousands of refugees, then fine. But 20,000 people? It's TINY. The UK can easily house that number (and we're talking people, not households) and not bat an eyelid. Most people wouldn't even notice.

I totally agree with this.

The vast, vast majority of refugees from Afghanistan will remain in that region and we'll mostly turn a blind eye to the conditions they will be living in, while insisting that there's no space here, when there is plenty.

Why is it OK for Turkey but not the UK?

You are comparing different sizes and different base cultures also

[quote Ponoka7]@LemonRoses, they won't be spread out like that though.
I'm in Liverpool, we are going to get at least 1000. It's already covered in our local newspaper. Liverpool was built on refugees, immigrants and our previous wealth came from slavery and exploitation. However, now we are seriously deprived. We were hardest hit by austerity. We are just about hanging in there because of Covid. Poverty, especially child poverty has increased and more community and charity projects have been needed. Our NHS dentists are a joke and many only saw private patients. Our GP and Walk-ins aren't great. Our education, speech therapy, MH services are way overstretched. There's a lack of proper jobs. Thanks to the bedroom tax we have a affordable housing crisis.
Is it fair to put these people here? I don't think so. I wouldn't live in the areas of the city that they will be put in and were I live has had eight shooting incidents in a few months. It isn't being NIMBY to think that traumatised people should go somewhere nicer.[/quote]
Yes, there is a need for consideration of how people can be integrated, and there should be consideration of 'levelling up' as promised by the government,. Liverpool has been hard hit by the actions and voting of others, and that is a real shame.

I think investment in health, education and areas facing the greatest challenges from the impact of Brexit and austerity should be targeted and increased - the people deserve more (even though many in other poor communities voted like Turkeys for Christmas).

The problem is of course, if everyone says 'not here' then where? It is not their fault there is a fleecing or ordinary people to line the pockets of the very rich.

Just been checking, @mustlovegin, about 1,200, but the source added that Biden is allocating extra funds.

about 1,200

Generous bunch

I am full of admiration for those individuals who have welcomed refugees into their homes/communities.

Whilst I note that our government expects to welcome mainly women and children, I would still sound a note of caution regarding the men (initial refugees but also the fathers, sons, brothers and cousins) who will no doubt follow:

https://nationalinterest.org/feature/ive-worked-refugees-decades-europes-afghan-crime-wave-mind-21506?amp&twitterrimpression=true&fbclid=IwAR2P61jVLG9RKhzvPeP0WuRmPEFf047nZooKLwAVzZKagZ8EnAetSIkRQ9I

I quote: "...it quickly became obvious that something was wrong, very wrong, with these young Afghan men: they were committing sex crimes to a much greater extent than other refugees, even those from countries that were equally or more backward, just as Islamic and conservative, and arguably just as misogynist."

Homelessness is not a problem relating to housing stock.

The number of people in inadequate "temporary" accommodation is.

Don't use it as a reason to abandon refugees.

I agree. That doesn't mean I didn't think "where will they go?" though. It's a valid concern. I live in Croydon, where the Home Office have a main office dealing with immigrants/refugees. There is a large amount of inadequate temporary accommodation about. It's a sobering thought to think that this is a better life than what they are leaving behind.

@mustlovegin

about 1,200

Generous bunch

2,700 under Obama in 2016. Although obviously the situation hadn't reached this crisis point.

@mustlovegin

About 1,200 medically qualified refugees

Are qualifications equivalent? Another risk we would introduce

Guess what. We've thought of that. Unless there's an approved qualification - someone who studied here, perhaps, they study to cover the UK qualification needed. That also requires them to have the necessary standard of English.

They don't hop off a plane and pop up doing brain surgery at the nearest hospital.

@mustlovegin

Actually, does anyone know how many the USA are taking?

Good question. California and all the liberal lefty bastions

The US are paying Uganda to host them.

Those who use "woke" as an insult tend to be the same ones who want the borders closing

But ironically were insistent that borders should not be closed because of the pandemic.

Go ahead and campaign to get the state to address homelessness. Don't use it as a reason to abandon refugees.

They wouldn’t want to do that though. They need to have issues in the UK such as people being homeless in order to have a reason to not help refugees. If all UK people were ok and they spouted these views, they couldn’t pretend that their views are not simply racist and xenophobic.

@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.

Havenrtft but thank you for these links @PenCreed

@libertyfarmboots
Exactly. The vast majority of those who flee will go Pakistan, Iran and on to Turkey. Very few will end up further afield (and those who do will tend to be younger men who are seen as having the greatest chances of succeeding - families will often pool resources to be able to send one member).

@Maireas

Just been checking, *@mustlovegin*, about 1,200, but the source added that Biden is allocating extra funds.

So far, about 1,200 Afghans have been evacuated to the United States and that number is set to rise to 3,500 in the coming weeks under "Operation Allies Refuge," with some going to a U.S. military base in Virginia to finalize their paperwork and others directly to U.S. hosts.

@Sarahlou63

*To whom?

Are most of the refugees from Afghanistan male?*

FFS. They are human. Just like you aspire to be.

I wouldn't offer my spare room to a male. I'd feel safer with females, as I'm female and those I live w are female also.

Does that mean I'm not a human?

I think your comment is awful

Homelessness is not a problem relating to housing stock
Actually, yes it is; many people who become homeless are already on housing registers, often living in poor accommodation with little security of tenure. More stock means that they stand a greater chance of being housed and not becoming homeless. The homeless legislation was brought in to deal with situations which were out of the ordinary, if you like, but today it's expected to deal with people who should never have become homeless in the first place. When I was a homeless officer, I dealt with many people who had been waiting to be housed, and eventually they inevitably became homeless because they had simply run out of time, so families who had been given notice and then a possession order, people who had been asked to leave by friends etc. They should have been housed.

@wednesdayweather

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

Came at a heavy cost though. Approximately 50,000 dead civilians including countless children. Yes it’s great literacy improved as did child mortality stats. Though if you compare to other developing countries, eg China and India, child mortality stats improved 2000-2020 more than they did in Afghanistan. The “peace” you speak of was no such thing I’m afraid. It never existed.

@the80sweregreat

Not everyone contributes though do they? Many end up on benefits even if they can work. For every person who is now in a high flying job there are many others living on the state . This money has to come from somewhere too and post a pandemic with zillions of pounds in debt already it'll be the young who will pick up the shortfalls :( Plus there won't be a proper discussion about any of this as anyone expressing concerns are shut down as being racist or bigots when we can already see things falling apart as it is. Read any thread about our young people trying to access mental health support in schools and it's always ' lack of funds ' , which will be found to help others ; no wonder people are angry, yet we are called names if we ask questions about how it'll all be funded or where they will all live etc .

yes its all this i agree , plus the nhs is struggling as usual , general ops are backlogged up by over a year because of covid , many councils up and down the country have hundreds of families all in temp accomodation waiting for a property . dire shortage of gps , schools are often overloaded , and in the meantime we still have boatloads of ecomomic migrants arriving in dover regularly who have to be housed to boot . but you have hit the nail on the head , say anything other than oh we must take them in ,and you are accused of being a racist its a pretty sure bet that of those hundreds of ecomomic migrants arriving by boat precious few of them acutually have a skill as in medical , enginering , most of them will be unskilled and its fair enough if they take unskilled jobs , but many of them will end up on the dole , the wives and kids that come with them sometimes will no doubt need support in the form of benefits , the same is going to apply to the afghan refugees . its said priority is going to women and girls , but how many afghan men are going to want their wives and daughters coming over here while they stay behind , they are going to want to apply as well ,which means whole families as well

i honestly would like this country to get its shit together , more social housing built . address the gp crisis , sort out the nhs somehow , god knows how , but just somehow . address the problems in care for our elderly before we let in any more refugees , we already have loads of them rammed into hotels , barracks , i expect they will be there for years whilst their appeals get dragged out and yet here we are offering to take in more .
i expect i will get a label slapped on me for this , really dont care to be honest as its clear that any discussion is impossible in less your in favour of it , your right about that

Where will we put all of the British babies who are being born?