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.

@TacoCats

You do reliese your inviting a complete stranger into your home, who will be very mentally traumatised and most likely will struggle to communicate with you and then you need to pay out extra for keep.

It's not easy, those thinking it'll be a breeze you haven't got a clue what your getting yourselves into this isn't some fairy tale!

Of course no one is taking this lightly. Why would you think that?

They are saying on the news that this a sixth month commitment minimum. Something to be taken very seriously indeed.

And while your post is about a host's potential discomfort in the face of 'traumatised strangers with whom we will struggle to communicate' surely it's important to remember that Ukrainian refugees will be equally wary of living in a complete stranger's house when they themselves are traumatised, and it wasn't exactly in their life plan to move to a country where they can't speak the language. Surely they have as much reason to be worried and concerned about us and our accommodation as we are about them?

@workwoes123

I think it's a terrible idea. The money should be used to provide mass accommodation in neutral spaces - repurposed offices, gyms, hotels and b&bs etc. It's going to be a safeguarding nightmare. Handing out money to random people to house vulnerable women and children? It's insane, the potential for abuse is huge.

@workwoes123 It really is :( There is a certain type of sexist, misogynistic, grubby man who will be looking at this as a great opportunity to get a Ukrainian girlfriend or wife. The imbalance of power will be huge in those household, and abuse will follow.

Its a very privileged self indulgence to start the response with how it may unsettle and inconvinence your way of life for a short while...... Seriously get a grip!!!

There is absolutely no point in not being realistic or frank about the fact that there will be difficulties involved in doing something like this and people need to be committed and take it seriously. It's not something to be done in a brief burst of empathy. It is CERTAINLY not something to guilt or shame people into doing or wanting to do; that is not in the interests of refugees at all.

Have you read or seen the Railway Children? They house a refugee -for free It's not the railway children. It's not a story. It's people's lives. They are not your charity case.

@Helenahandkart

My understanding of this was that there are different schemes running One is where you can sponsor a named individual (which has been running for a while) and the other is a new scheme where you register to house a refugee who would be allocated to you. I don’t think that the new scheme requires you to find your own refugee on social media etc. That would only apply to the pre-existing sponsorship scheme.

We were already planning to offer our spare room and scrape together enough money to feed them etc, so the news that they can work/claim benefits, as well as there being a payment to the hosts is a relief as it would have been financially challenging.

A lot of people on this thread are very defensive about the whole idea of housing refugees, but no one is going to force you. If you don’t have the space, time, money or inclination then that’s perfectly fine, but don’t pour scorn on people who are lucky enough to be in a situation to help.

And yes, the system might be exploited, every system is, but that’s no reason to dismiss the whole concept.

No, there's no existing sponsorship scheme. You can sponsor only immediate relatives of British citizens/ permanent residents at the moment. The new scheme is for everyone else.

I don’t want to derail the thread so I’ll make this my last post. Apologises, OP, I thought you asked who was going to do it. I wouldn’t have replied if I’d noticed it was just for those who were interested.

@daisypond I’m not traumatised The Ukrainians will be though, and I won’t have that around my child. My child is my priority and living with a traumatised family isn’t safe, healthy or fair for her.

Also I see a lot of comments about social services and fostering. I don't feel it's really comparable. The scheme is for hosting independent adults who until a few weeks ago were living ordinary lives. Many fled from their homes before they saw anything first hand. That's very different from taking in a lone child, or someone who has been through other conflicts where they may have been conscripted to eat war/lived in war zone for years/suffered persecution and torture.
Any UASC will be supported through the appropriate channels, not through this scheme.

@hassletassle

I have two children as well, so I'd only accept a mother and child... but like pp these are extraordinary , desperate times. And I like to think someone would take me and my kids in.

But Syria and Afghanistan were not extraordinary, desperate times. What did our government do then?

@TacoCats

And watch that £350 be taken off peoples benefits as income. It's not worth it, it'll cost more alone in having extra people stay in food, gas/electric, water, petrol!

Wouldn't there be an expectation that at least some of their benefits will go towards food?

surely it's important to remember that Ukrainian refugees will be equally wary of living in a complete stranger's house when they themselves are traumatised, and it wasn't exactly in their life plan to move to a country where they can't speak the language. Surely they have as much reason to be worried and concerned about us and our accommodation as we are about them?

Indeed - they do and no-one should be suggesting it won't be harder for them. It is vital however that people consider what they are committing to, as for many, many people, however much they initially want to help, this won't be a feasible thing to do and it is better that they don't host someone than host someone and have it break down causing more upheaval to the Ukrainian person.

@KloppsTeeth I urge you to seriously consider this as a longterm project. I think the government has said six months, but you could be looking at years. Some of these people will have nothing to go back to. Their homes might be destroyed, their families killed. If Putin succeeds, they won't even have their own country to go back to as it was. The person or people you could be taking on could have post-traumatic issues for years or decades to come.

@workwoes123

I think it's a terrible idea. The money should be used to provide mass accommodation in neutral spaces - repurposed offices, gyms, hotels and b&bs etc. It's going to be a safeguarding nightmare. Handing out money to random people to house vulnerable women and children? It's insane, the potential for abuse is huge.

Do we know whether there is going to be any sort of vetting process for hosts? The abuse risk is a significant one.

Whenever the subject of refugee 'housing' is raised, I always wonder what Tom Petty would've suggested "Somebody, somewhere, must have kicked you around some" ?

I'd really like to host but have the following issues

1. single parent with 1 DC in a 2 bed flat. My DC is in my bed every night (age 9) so the other room rarely gets used. I'd happily waive my usage of the room for a refugee but would it be deemed suitable given there are already 2 of us in the flat?

2. I privately rent. Would this cause an issue?

3. I get housing benefit. Again would this be affected by the monies given towards the hosting?

I would really love to help out but I worry that the system will make it difficult for me or decline my offer, despite having what I believe to be suitable accommodation.

Any thoughts welcome.

@PakkaMakka

Also I see a lot of comments about social services and fostering. I don't feel it's really comparable. The scheme is for hosting independent adults who until a few weeks ago were living ordinary lives. Many fled from their homes before they saw anything first hand. That's very different from taking in a lone child, or someone who has been through other conflicts where they may have been conscripted to eat war/lived in war zone for years/suffered persecution and torture. Any UASC will be supported through the appropriate channels, not through this scheme.

There are both types, in all fairness.

The first wave of people have fled just before the war / in the very first days. These are more likely to be educated, worldly, middle-class, self-sufficient and without extra responsibilities such as elderly parents. And yes, they did not experience it first hand. Think - if, God forbid, something like that happened to the UK - who do you think would have the capacity to leave first?

The wave that is leaving now via evacuation corridors is properly traumatised. I know British women of Ukrainian origin with great careers and lives in the UK who cannot return now to the peaceful life after spending a week or two in bomb shelters there. Some of them have returned to Ukraine / nearby countries to help with the humanitarian effort.

Have you read or seen the Railway Children? They house a refugee -for free. It's not the railway children. It's not a story. It's people's lives. They are not your charity case.

My example there, perhaps poorly chosen, was that the host family themselves were poor and were struggling. But still took in a refugee. I’ve hosted vulnerable homeless young people before and I live somewhere already overcrowded with no spare room or second loo/bathroom. I do it because I want to help, not because they are a charity case.

[quote EarthSight]@KloppsTeeth I urge you to seriously consider this as a longterm project. I think the government has said six months, but you could be looking at years. Some of these people will have nothing to go back to. Their homes might be destroyed, their families killed. If Putin succeeds, they won't even have their own country to go back to as it was. The person or people you could be taking on could have post-traumatic issues for years or decades to come.[/quote]
Thank you. Good points.

@workwoes123

I think it's a terrible idea. The money should be used to provide mass accommodation in neutral spaces - repurposed offices, gyms, hotels and b&bs etc. It's going to be a safeguarding nightmare. Handing out money to random people to house vulnerable women and children? It's insane, the potential for abuse is huge.

I totally agree.

I am helping in any other way I can, including donating money every month (that I can only just about afford). I'll donate stuff, I'd even volunteer for work in a soup kitchen or whatever, but I just can't do this.

Also, I simply cannot take others into my home, selfish as that may sound.

The government put up those huge white elephants the Nightingale hospitals mighty quickly, and subsequently closed them barely used. They could do the same for emergency refugee accommodation, while they work on a proper and more sustainable solution.

@ClaudineClare

You will need to be able to name the people you want to host according to the BBC.

Individuals acting as sponsors will be able to nominate a named Ukrainian individual or family to stay with them rent-free in their home, or in a separate property, for six months

Sponsors won't be required to know them in advance - they might find them, for example, through posts on social media

Another way for the government to distance themselves. If they haven't placed people, they won't be responsible for any rapes in attacks or whatever else people are worried about by letting strangers into their homes.

I agree with you Totseyt It's not really practical for me to host but I'm definitely up for helping in other ways I can.
If I was going to host I would prefer people 70+ they give me less anxiety. Think it's because I spent most of my 30s looking after my dad.

[quote EarthSight]@KloppsTeeth I urge you to seriously consider this as a longterm project. I think the government has said six months, but you could be looking at years. Some of these people will have nothing to go back to. Their homes might be destroyed, their families killed. If Putin succeeds, they won't even have their own country to go back to as it was. The person or people you could be taking on could have post-traumatic issues for years or decades to come.[/quote]
These are also salient points, which the government is not addressing, and the very reason why a sustainable long term solution must be found.

I would worry that if I had allowed people into my home then the government and local authorities would consider them adequately housed and do nothing further, leaving me with a problem for all the reasons you have outlined.

I just don't trust the government not to do that, rely on the goodwill of the people and then just wash it's hands of the refugees. That would leave everyone worse off.

1. Appaerntly almost all house insurance forbids it - so do check that first.
2. It would also breach most assured shorthold tenancy agreements and could turn a rented property into an HMO - huge implications.
3. If you are single person as I am you would lose your 25% council tax discount - about £1k a year for me.
4. 31% of Ukrainians have had the covid vaccine so this could be a public health issue if say we have 1m of them into the UK or a similar number to Poland.
5. If you receive benefits the £350 a week might affect your own benefits.
6. Obviously all the other practical issues - child safety etc.

We did take in 10,000 unaccompanied children in WWII (although children alone are different thing than whole families, men, etc ) and are a welcoming nation for others so I only point out the issues above because they are important, not to put people off.

@TacoCats

And watch that £350 be taken off peoples benefits as income. It's not worth it, it'll cost more alone in having extra people stay in food, gas/electric, water, petrol!

It won’t have an impact on food or petrol expenditure. These people are being given benefits. The £350 a month is to cover the increased utility costs. I’m pleasantly surprised there’s a payment at all, we weren’t expecting that when we decided to volunteer.

[quote Reallybadidea]@Frazzled2207 they are going to be vetted, but how do you ensure that someone isn't going to be forced to work as an unpaid cleaner/nanny with the threat of homelessness hanging over them?[/quote]
Exactly. the city where I live already has massive problems with modern day slavery/ sweat shops etc.

Thanks for this post. Hopefully will be used for information and not arguments.
With regard to needing a lock with a key on the spare room - presumably this could be fitted reasonably easily?

@68marmite

reading all the posts. Its a very privileged self indulgence to start the response with how it may unsettle and inconvinence your way of life for a short while...... Seriously get a grip!!! Flip the situation... The experience for households with children i only see the benefit to make sence of what is happening and the values of humanity. Yes i have children yes i have a spare room and yes i will register.

Are you replying to the correct thread? Where has op said the above?