To ask if you'll sponsor a Ukrainian refugee?

[TheBeesKnee]

The humanitarian pathway means that charities, communities and individuals can sponsor refugees. I've felt very disturbed and useless this past week and want to do something, contribute somehow, make a difference to someone's life.

We have a spare room, so we could take someone in? Just need to talk to DP.

Would be interested to hear if anyone else plans to or experiences - either in this war or any previous if applicable.

No. With the best will in the world it could go wrong. And after six months? What then? Are they going to magic up lots of new homes for them? If it broke down where would the family go? They would also be traumatised and there would be a language barrier. We have donated lots and organised drops into Poland of stuff for the refugees. I have every sympathy for them what they're going through is utterly horrendous- but think this scheme was thought up in haste and lots of ppl may sign up for the wrong reasons and it could all go horribly wrong for all parties.

Lots of requests for help coming through now on the various facebook pages.

UK accommodation for Ukranian refugees facebook page

I wonder what kind of security checks will be carried out on hosts, and whether there is anything we can do to prepare. E.g. if there's going to bea requirement for a DBS check would it be best to get cracking with that asap? My partner's had one for work, but I've never needed one.

Ok, it took over 4 hours to fill in 3 lots of application forms, but it's done!

And now we wait?!

And after six months? What then? Are they going to magic up lots of new homes for them?

This is something that worries me too. I've just had a 6 month no-fault eviction notice off my landlord, so at the rate things are going I'll be competing very directly with a significant number of Ukrainians for somewhere to rent.

The market is ridiculous at the moment and it's already pretty much impossible to rent when you're self employed and a dog owner, so this is likely to make things triply difficult. This time there's going to be more competition and the landlord will get a warm glow from housing a refugee while I sleep in a tent. The council will wash their hands of me because I don't have kids. I wouldn't last 5 mins in the local homeless shelter - someone was stabbed to death there a few months ago. I'd be safer sleeping on the streets.

Please don't think I'm unsympathetic to the plight of the Ukrainians - if I had a spare room and could commit to 6 months then I'd probably sign up. But I'm seriously worried about keeping a roof over my own head.