The added cost of housing a refugee family

I read today that billionaire Phones 40 founder John Caldwell is offering to put up a displaced family at his Staffordshire estate. How magnanimous of him! I would imagine he could offer shelter to several families, not just one. He urges other wealthy individuals to do the same.

snowberryZ

£25 per week doesn't sound much .

... and it doesn't sound guaranteed. This is just how one charity works.

Would you lose the single person discount from the Council if you had a refugee family living with you?

I wonder if they would be able to claim 'benefits' as some other immigrants can? including free health cover, free education for their children, housing benefit etc.
I think they wouild need to have a job and earn a certain amount.

granfromafar

I read today that billionaire Phones 40 founder John Caldwell is offering to put up a displaced family at his Staffordshire estate. How magnanimous of him! I would imagine he could offer shelter to several families, not just one. He urges other wealthy individuals to do the same.

Maybe he could, but at least he's doing something which a lot of us feel that we can't, for the reasons a lot of posters have given. If "other wealthy individuals" are prepared to get involved too, particularly if they have plenty of room, good for them!

granfromafar

I read today that billionaire Phones 40 founder John Caldwell is offering to put up a displaced family at his Staffordshire estate. How magnanimous of him! I would imagine he could offer shelter to several families, not just one. He urges other wealthy individuals to do the same.

Johan Caudwell has given, and continues to give, millions to charity.

He is also signed up to the Bill Gates' pledge which calls on billionaires to give at least half of their wealth to charity during their lifetime.

He owns an incredible home in London, which 70% of money made when sold will go to charity.

A very generous man indeed.

I heard on a news bulletin the Bishop of somewhere said he was willing to house a family. No idea where he lives, but many bishops live in quite spacious accommodation.

Makes a big difference if you have a couple of spare bedrooms, bathroom and possibly separate kitchenette or similar. Better for host family and refugee family also.

A very close family relative met a Syrian refugee while out walking and chatted. He was invited to stay in their tiny 2 bed flat and he remained there with them fir nearly two years, until my relative became seriously ill. This was not done officially and was a totally private arrangement.
He was not allowed to work and had little if any benefit and as far as I know was not able to contribute to his keep. I assume this was covered by my relative and partner who are not in any way wealthy. He is now completely independent, working and speaks his new language ( they are in Europe) fluently and they are very good friends.

This was the second refugee they had offered hospitality to and it goes without saying that i am proud of them,. They are thoroughly decent people who deserve a medal quite frankly.

Maybe people who own houses/accommodation that’s used as holiday rentals could put people up in their rental accommodation. That would give both the host and the refugee family privacy. There are plenty of holiday lets available all over the country and I think if I owned one I’d happily allow that to be used to house a family. I think it could be extremely stressful for the refugee family to be housed with a family or older couple, in a normal family home. They’ve just escaped from war, their male family members and often older relatives are still in Ukraine, and they’ll be grappling with a new country, culture, and feeling of having no personal space. Such a difficult time for them. Of course it would be a charitable act and as such no rent would be paid.

silverlining that’s a wonderful story, but we should remember that it’s much easier to take in one person than a family with traumatised children. Nonetheless I think your friends are wonderful for their entirely altruistic act.

Another thing to consider is, how long will this war last? You may end up with any refugees longer than you think unless yourself, or the Refugee organisation sets a time limit. I would have perhaps considered it, but Im helping a family member get back on their feet, plus I often have my grandchild to stay. For me personally I just don't have the room or the funds. My fuel bill has more than doubled, plus food and petrol prices just make it impossible for me. I will contribute to the DEC Ukrainian Appeal when I can.

I think it’s logistically not viable. Shortage of homes for those living here, mad inflation and housing costs. How many years will it take even if the war doesn’t last, would it take to rebuild Ukraine. There will be trouble soon where these other countries cannot afford the financial burden. It’s a terrible predicament, this Ukrainians are so brave and been through so much.

I think this is a clever way of getting the public to stop criticising the government for its lack of action on refugees.

Of course it's going to be difficult for people to accommodate traumatised families who probably don't speak English and have different ways and customs from ours, particularly when it's for an indefinite but extended period and we are about to enter a recession. Suggesting that that is the only way that we can take people in is disingenuous. As others have said, there are mansions going spare that have been taken from oligarchs. There are Nightingale hospitals that could be repurposed as hostels. There are second homes that are empty for most of the time that could be repurposed. Maybe there are office buildings that are no longer needed now that people have started to work from home.

The government has found billions of pounds to spend on weapons (that they previously said they didn't have to spend on maintaining the UC uplift, or to reduce queues on NHS waiting lists). There will be more down the back of the sofa to pay for emergency housing - both for our own homeless and for the refugees who want to come here. It might not be ideal, but neither is camping out in someone's spare room, eating food you're not used to and worrying about disrupting your hosts' routine.

I think they are hoping that people who said they would take people in but are now reconsidering will be too embarrassed to shout about the UK's lack of hospitality, or afraid that if they do speak up they will be asked to put their sofa where their mouth is, and the criticism will die down.

well one of the obvious answers is to re-purpose those houses owned by russian oligarchs, many of which are not even occupied. it is a way of storing money.
could be part of sanctions.

I mentioned that above, welbeck, as I think have others. Does anyone know what happens with assets that are taken as part of sanctions? Are they confiscated for ever, or are they given back when the conflict is over? I don't think I would let that stop me though, whatever the answer - the Ukrainians won't have homes to go back to either. As Allsorts points out, it will take years to rebuild the cities that have been blitzed.

Ukrainian refugees will be eligible for benefits and be entitled to work or so says the latest government U turn.

welbeck

well one of the obvious answers is to re-purpose those houses owned by russian oligarchs, many of which are not even occupied. it is a way of storing money.
could be part of sanctions.

I was just about to say the same, welbeck. If I was a refugee I would much prefer to live with my fellow countrymen and women, with whom I had a common culture and a common language, than with a UK family, especially if I had children with me. I do admire UK householders who are making the offer, though.

I think the idea of strangers moving into a normal sized property to live with the residents would be very difficult for both sides. Much better if they put up prefabs which I understand are very quick and easy to erect, then the family would have their own 'home'.

Quite simply, I think housing refugees is just for those who can afford to support them. But refugees can be helped without having them in your home.

Refugees will need a lot of support. Company, help with English for many, places and people to socialise with outside the home they are living in.

Support groups will be invaluable in those areas where some people are able to bear the cost of housing refugees.

I'll just carry on with charity donations. Although I have four good unused bedrooms, I know I'm just not tolerant or adaptable enough to be a welcoming host.

Financially, I wouldn't have a problem, though, and I doubt whether those who are on a tight budget should even consider it. Resentment would soon set in, I believe.

How will we know if they have been vaccinated. I don't want people I don't know wandering through my house. What to do if the child/children are unruly. ??

Ukrainians living here, working, paying taxes are begging for their relatives to be allowed to join them here and even that can't be arranged speedily and successfully.

silverlining that is one of the kindest, most humanitarian things I’ve read on GN today, thank you for posting.

Fennel

I wonder if they would be able to claim 'benefits' as some other immigrants can? including free health cover, free education for their children, housing benefit etc.
I think they wouild need to have a job and earn a certain amount.

I hope, while they are here, they are allowed to work. The "benefits" available for "some other immigrants" are dire. I wish they were allowed to work too.

Allsorts

I think it’s logistically not viable. Shortage of homes for those living here, mad inflation and housing costs. How many years will it take even if the war doesn’t last, would it take to rebuild Ukraine. There will be trouble soon where these other countries cannot afford the financial burden. It’s a terrible predicament, this Ukrainians are so brave and been through so much.

Aren't the continental European countries going through exactly the same things as we are - more so quite possibly? Why are people so begrudging.

If Putin gets all he wants in Ukraine it might make more sense, from his point of view, to go for us next. Let's hope others treat us more kindly if that is the case.