thread for those interested in refugee hosting/sponsorship

[EezyOozy]

I thought I would start a new thread about this as I have just heard on BBC news that they are opening up a web form tomorrow to express interest. Apparently families/households can claim £350 a month (I assume for increased expenses) and refugees will be eligible to claim or benefits and work. We have large a spare room but live rurally so whilst I will express interest I'm not sure we will be taken up on it.

I thought I would start a new thread for those who are interested and to follow the progress of the registration procedure/how this pans out in practice.

Posted here because it's the only place I know gets plenty traffic, I will probably be asking for this to be moved but don't know where to.

Me and DH have been talking about this for a week or so.
We will definitely sign up tomorrow, our DD has been told that her en-suite shower room bedroom is probably not going to be hers when she comes home in April.
We live pretty rurally, lots of agriculture and a fair number of food factories, so potential employment opportunities.
We were surprised at the amount of money on offer, although if we did get a couple of people, those daily showers etc will soon add up.
If a WhatsApp group is started could I please be included.

How old is your DD?

I think this organisation will be helping match refugees with people offering accommodation www.sanctuaryfoundation.org.uk
I would like to do it if I can work out the logistics (and have a massive clear out of the "spare" room.

Joining as we are definitely interested.

We are semi-rural though (with bus links to a local town and City).

That being said we would be perfect for someone who loves animals and perhaps wants some peace and quiet after such a traumatic time rather than wanting to live in the City.

We have a lovely, very close knit community so they would have lots of support and we could potentially add them to our car insurance.

We are all fine to be DBS checked and have no DC (other person is a lodger who works in NHS mental health services).

I’m shocked by the negativity on this thread. If you don’t want to do it or haven’t a spare room that’s fine . But the negativity towards people who are willing is horrible .
I’m going to sign up. We don’t really have a spare room - it Uni DD but she will be only home for short holidays and we can get a bed settee for living room . We have two toilets but only one bathroom.
Money is tight as I’m semi retired so we would need money to feed an extra person.
But I have time and happy to help drive to station etc . I could even offer free childcare .
I’m a caring person and no one would be exploited- I’m hope I could provide a safe and happy home.
I have grown up children and hope were they refugees someone would do the same for them . I sure it won’t be easy and without problems.
But I just can’t turn away and say it doesn’t concern me. It a war in Europe.

@LottyD32
Because purely on a practical level I was wondering if we'd be expected to fully 'host' the refugees and treat them as guests whereby we'd provide and do everything for them, or they'd be more like members of the family and muck in, cook and clean/do their own washing etc etc.
I'm just considering the amount of practical support/input/care that would be expected.
I don't think that's too confusing for you to understand

Good point about Ukraine being an agricultural powerhouse, there are loads of farms around here, so maybe rural areas will be considered after all. Let's see what tomorrow brings!

[quote Evoll671]@LottyD32
Because purely on a practical level I was wondering if we'd be expected to fully 'host' the refugees and treat them as guests whereby we'd provide and do everything for them, or they'd be more like members of the family and muck in, cook and clean/do their own washing etc etc.
I'm just considering the amount of practical support/input/care that would be expected.
I don't think that's too confusing for you to understand [/quote]
I think we'd be expected to offer them food and shelter and safety.

I posted elsewhere but this seems more relevant. We also live in a rural area and when I enquired a while ago about hosting a Syrian refugee I was told they wouldn't want to be so far from centres of support. I'd be happy to do it, we have a downstairs room that we could convert into a bedsit/large bedroom and we're on a bus route to local towns. Since we are only a couple of miles from the sea in a popular tourist area, I've been wondering if it would be possible to offer holiday breaks if we weren't thought suitable for longer stays. Does anyone know who I can contact?

Thanks for starting the thread. Have got to wait for the details but we have a spare room and are on a bus route into a small town, with lots of lovely walks and play areas for a mother and children. I would need the mother to be vaccinated though as our own child is vulnerable.

@Pliudev Refugees At Home do ask for holiday respite homes I believe.

Posting again on this as my earlier question didn't get picked up: does anyone without a spare room have any experience of hosting? Will the agencies even consider you if you can't offer a designated room? I live in a two-bed flat with my DD so it would mean either my DD sleeping with me or a refugee sleeping in my living room.

I'd like to do thi8s, my 12 years really wants to do this.
I have 2 spare bedrooms. Unfortunately I just cannot afford to. After all my bills come out of my pay I'm left with £220 for food and fuel.
Now fuel bill has just increased by £120, fuel for car increased by £40 a month, increased food prices likely to add at least another £60.

I'm working overtime already, which was to be able to do fun stuff, but is now just for essentials. I just couldn't afford to house and feed a few refugees. I'm sure I'm not the only one and it's a real shame.

Also don't have locks on doors with a key, wouldn't be able to afford for a carpenter to come fit them either!

Sounds like a safeguarding disaster, sending vulnerable people, many with PTSD to live with total strangers; who I doubt are being vetted correctly. Imagine the abuse and exploitation which may occur. I work with some students who are refugees and it makes me sudden to think how vulnerable to abuse they are.

Yes similar boat plus sharing a bathroom. In all honesty while I would love to help in this way I don't think it's practical for 6months +. If someone in my neighbourhood is doing it I would be very happy to help out invite people for dinner or provide transport where needed.

What’s the problem with sharing a bathroom? Surely that’s normal - most house have only one bathroom/loo. If you have a spare bedroom that you potentially could give to a refugee, sharing a bathroom would be the same as sharing the kitchen or living room, both of which you’d be willing to do. What’s the bathroom issue?

@Mouldyfeet

I'd like to do thi8s, my 12 years really wants to do this. I have 2 spare bedrooms. Unfortunately I just cannot afford to. After all my bills come out of my pay I'm left with £220 for food and fuel. Now fuel bill has just increased by £120, fuel for car increased by £40 a month, increased food prices likely to add at least another £60.

I'm working overtime already, which was to be able to do fun stuff, but is now just for essentials. I just couldn't afford to house and feed a few refugees. I'm sure I'm not the only one and it's a real shame.

Wouldn’t the government £350 a month make it possible? I think they’ll get benefits too so I’m not sure you’re expected to feed them.

Yes, the £350 is just for housing costs (rent and bills), not food.

DD just showed me something from Hanover. 36 'villages, each consisting of 4 tents with 8 proper beds in them and a central eating area, all housed in a warehouse. It looked like a great set-up

Very interesting thread, thank you for starting it, op. We are considering hosting as we have a small spare bedroom and I speak Russian. Realistically, the room is only large enough for one person long term, so not suitable for a family, however small. The bathroom would have to be shared with us. I think the size of UK houses in general is not very conducive to hosting, unfortunately. Perhaps, families could be split when being hosted, i.e. grandparent staying in a different home from the daughter with the grandchildren but both houses being a walking distance away. I am a bit embarrassed as our house is very small and needs decorating. We are in a smallish town with poor public transport. I hope that maybe there is a way of doing this gradually, i.e. at first assisting refugees with general issues/taking them on trips/ providing some respite to hosts, etc. and then arranging for someone to stay with us.

We’re happy to put a bolt on the inside of a bedroom door, but a lock with a key? Who has that on their bedroom doors?

I don't think offering money is a good idea. You are going to get all sorts of people just doing it for the money. It's not what traumatised individuals need.

@thepeopleversuswork

Posting again on this as my earlier question didn't get picked up: does anyone without a spare room have any experience of hosting? Will the agencies even consider you if you can't offer a designated room? I live in a two-bed flat with my DD so it would mean either my DD sleeping with me or a refugee sleeping in my living room.

I answered either your question or a very similar one previously. The short answer is probably not unless the living room is separate and could be considered usable as a third bedroom.

We’ve hosted refugees before, and a young man who’d just come out of prison. Never had a bad experience. (Ok the Ethiopian guy was terrible at washing up but he now considers my parents to be his surrogate parents and I really like that, and we had a lot of fun and memorable times with him.) All of them had undoubtedly been through some very traumatic experiences but they didn’t pass that trauma onto us and all of them had their own ways of dealing with it. I was just glad that we could offer them a safe and calm place to decompress.

We will be signing up to host a Ukrainian family and are optimistic about what this will entail. Just hope we’re not too remote. Realistically they’d have to be able to drive if they want to work, socialise etc.