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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this isn’t good enough

63 replies

User5827372728 · 18/08/2021 18:16

Bristol had pledged to find housing for…

www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/afghanistan-bristol-south-gloucestershire-councils-5803237

10 families…. How is that good enough? 10?!!!!

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 18/08/2021 22:20

@sjxoxo and everyone else! Have a look at Make the Shift and their take on housing.

www.make-the-shift.org/

Housing for all is entirely possible if you treat housing as somewhere to live rather than a commodity. But rich people don't want that. They want students, people on the list, refugees and everyone else fighting over scraps and paying more and more. Look up not sideways for who's to blame.

sst1234 · 18/08/2021 22:40

So what it an acceptable number OP, and how would you fund it? And none of this forcibly take people empty homes nonsense please, this is not the Soviet Union.

Original poster
User5827372728 · 19/08/2021 07:07

Well as it’s a major emergency an emergency response is required. So mass housing in a nightingale seems appropriate as an initial response before housing can be found. So much better than the other option of staying in a war zone. They’ve not even advertised that people can offer a spare bedroom to a refugee or family.

OP posts:
Original poster
User5827372728 · 19/08/2021 07:07

And there’s many schools in Bristol with places available

OP posts:
Ponoka7 · 19/08/2021 07:20

It isn't as simple as just school places. Those children will have a percentage of SN, language and curriculum support will be needed. They need GPs and dentists. How do you adequately house families in empty hospitals? There's still a level of crime and sexual etc abuse committed within this population. Personally I think that we should Holt immigration and just deal with asylum seekers.
There's another thread on this. A lot are coming to Liverpool. We don't have the resources. If councils refuse to take them without extra finding, that is for the good of those coming from Afghanistan.

pinkcircustop · 19/08/2021 07:37

It’s not our emergency, OP, but by taking on too many we would be furthering own own housing, schools and infrastructure crisis’.

GoldMoon · 19/08/2021 07:44

I'm not going to get into any argument about which councils should / will be getting xxx amount of asylum seekers . But will say it isn't about just having the empty flats or houses ready with just a hand over of keys . These houses have to be ready furnished including bedding , cooking utensils , white goods , everything available for someone to be able to live . I take my hat off to every area able and willing to do that.

dworky · 19/08/2021 07:57

@lughnasadh

There's a housing crisis.
Caused by government policies. There are plenty of empty homes in the UK.
PumpkinPie2016 · 19/08/2021 07:57

I truly have every sympathy for the Afghan people and we (and other nations) should support as many refugees as we can.

However, it may be that 20000 is all we can reasonably take Sad

Housing in this country is a massive issue. There isn't enough social housing as it is. Nor enough private rental property.

These people need more than houses too. They will need access to GPs, dentists, midwives, health visitors etc.

The children need school places and it isn't a case of just stick them in a class and off you go. Many will have limited English so need additional support with that, or SEND needs. They will likely have covered a different curriculum.

I genuinely wish we could have as many refugees here as need a place but that is most likely not feasible.

CabbagesGreen · 19/08/2021 08:13

@User5827372728

Well as it’s a major emergency an emergency response is required. So mass housing in a nightingale seems appropriate as an initial response before housing can be found. So much better than the other option of staying in a war zone. They’ve not even advertised that people can offer a spare bedroom to a refugee or family.
How long will it take for housing to be found though? If there are other councils or even countries that can take them on quicker and integrate them quicker that is better surely? I'm not sure putting a load of traumatised people in a conference centre is the best idea for their recovery without having a plan how to move them into the main population.
CabbagesGreen · 19/08/2021 08:14

@User5827372728

And there’s many schools in Bristol with places available
Ah didn’t know that dont have the local knowledge. Thats one less thing to think about then but they'll still need support.
Original poster
User5827372728 · 19/08/2021 08:19

Well in the 11 years of a non full city centre school I’ve only taught 2 asylum seekers; both of which our country tried to send ‘home’ once they reached 18. Was horrific!

We need to do as much as we can, before it’s too late. I wish i had a spare room but we already have 4 in a 2 bedroom flat.

OP posts:
CabbagesGreen · 19/08/2021 08:34

Ah cool so they already have some of the infrastructure for asylum seekers, is there anyway you can think of of housing them near the existing ones? So they can access the services? It sounds like it's a local level specific issue but needs government funding to support. Can you write to your MP?

catndogslife · 19/08/2021 08:39

@User5827372728

Well they created a huge nightingale hospital that was never used..!! That could be a temporary accommodation.

Students are learning online… they could stay home and uni accommodation used.

That building is now a COVID vaccination centre. It was moved from Ashton Gate fairly recently. The building is owned by UWE so is nothing to do with the Council.

There is a huge housing shortage in Bristol OP including a big problem with homeless people on the streets. There is also a shortage of school places in many areas too.

AwaAnBileYerHeid · 19/08/2021 09:07

OP there is another thread where a woman is taking in Afghani refugees into her home. Perhaps you could ask her advice on how to go about this, that would up the quota in your area a bit.

MNmonster · 19/08/2021 09:09

@User5827372728

10 families is a shockingly low amount for a huge city! We can do better than that, we should do better than that.
Where are they going to magically find ten houses from when they probably have a social housing waiting list that's ten years long?
AwaAnBileYerHeid · 19/08/2021 09:09

Or failing that if you don't have the space, there are charities that you can donate money to that help refugees, my mother does that along with tefl to refugees. I'm about to get involved myself. There are always ways to help, even a little.

Original poster
User5827372728 · 19/08/2021 09:25

@AwaAnBileYerHeid

I would love to, but we have 4 people in a 2 bed flat

OP posts:
Original poster
User5827372728 · 19/08/2021 09:25

@AwaAnBileYerHeid

I’m so up for this and will do as much as I possibly can

OP posts:
HalfShrunkMoreToGo · 19/08/2021 09:30

I think the housing crisis means that any council is going to struggle with any additional demand. The bigger problem in my mind is the rules that prevent refugees and asylum seekers from seeking paid work forcing them to stay in a cycle of benefits and needing to be accommodated. If we allowed people to earn money they would be in a better position, in a shorter time to find private accommodation. As it is many refugees will be forced into council accommodations for months if not years while their immigration status is determined, making the housing situation worse for longer.

MrsSkylerWhite · 19/08/2021 09:34

User5827372728

Well they created a huge nightingale hospital that was never used..!! That could be a temporary accommodation.

Students are learning online… they could stay home and uni accommodation used.“

Ours is fully face to face from September.

There are vast amounts of empty office space in most city centres though. Many have kitchens and plumbing for sanitation and with not very much adaptation they could serve as clean, safe temporary housing (for homeless UK citizens too). Political will just isn’t there.

MNmonster · 19/08/2021 09:55

@MrsSkylerWhite yes but businesses would have to give up their space to do that. And building owners would want rents paid/compensation from th government.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to money and a government who don't want to spend it.

SoreusBacchus · 19/08/2021 10:02

Well as it’s a major emergency an emergency response is required

What makes you think it's a major emergency?

Original poster
User5827372728 · 19/08/2021 10:32

@SoreusBacchus

Really? Maybe turn on the news

OP posts:
SoreusBacchus · 19/08/2021 10:36

I don't need to turn on the news, I already know far more about it than you do. The question stands...what makes you think this is a major emergency?

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