The added cost of housing a refugee family

I have concerns for both sides. There is the horrible possibility of refugees being abused,especially as they are mainly women and childeren. From the point of view of those accepting people into their homes I did see a cautionary comment in the Guardian about the trauma refugees had experienced and both they and hosts would need access to specialist teams. If this wasnt in place it was likened to a Foster placement with absolutely no support whatsoever-which is scary.
Help is indeed essential. A nominal sum seems to be available and from what I have read refugees will be allowed to claim benefits and work( a cynical part of me views the government as seeing this as a possible solution to the jobs that have remained unfilled in care and hospitality).
I hope against all hope it will be properly organised and monitored but with the reduction in all the services needed to support people since austerity I do wonder how this will happen

The government are paying £350 a month to house refugees. Minimum 6 months commitment.

Taking someone into your home is a tremendous commitment and not one to be taken lightly, so I’m very encouraged by this thread.

As someone who can speak from direct experience I would urge anyone to think twice before taking in a stranger, and especially one from another country/culture. Not because we’ve had bad experiences, on the contrary, our lives have been hugely enriched by the people we’ve hosted, but initially it can take a huge amount of adjustment, flexibility, tolerance and patience. I think if a decision has been taken after careful consideration it much more likely to yield a successful outcome.

There is a pattern to taking in adult strangers that will be familiar to anyone who has taken in foster children; firstly there is a honeymoon period when everything is just dandy, this is followed by the ‘tunnel of conflict’ when the cracks begin to show (different expectations, small irritations, frustration etc.) and then, if the relationship survives that period, there is the ‘reality’ of day to day life when your home becomes truly also theirs and ‘family’ life finds its rhythm again.

Our family has expanded to include many of those we’ve taken in over the years; my newest ‘grandchild’, born in January is of Muslim Afghan parentage. Our ‘family’ of strangers has brought us tremendous joy, but more to the point of this thread, we haven’t added to the pain and distress of a displaced person through placements breaking down.

Callistemon21

I was just horrified to see a BBC report where child traffickers are taking orphans and unaccompanied children at the border, some posing as helpers.

Where's there's a crisis there's a criminal taking advantage of the situation.

German police have been warning refugees. Obviously germans in cars going to poland, romania etc. It will be evil women as well as men.

I know many people who are driving from Germany to Poland picking up complete strangers to bring back to their own homes. No doubt the same has been happening in other countries. I am embarrassed so little is being done by us, by our government.

Refugees are just like us, 3 weeks ago they were living their lives pretty much as we are doing now. The same hopes and dreams, the same joys and sorrows. Now, all they have is a small bag with a few items, everything else left in their homes which they may never see again. They have lost everything.

Just imagine if you can that was you, your family, your children or grandchildren, how might you feel?

yes all this is bound to happen unfortunately

I wish in a way I hadnt read it but I wanted to drive there and gather them all up.

It TURNS MY STOMACH to read this Callistemon. I havent seen the BBC report and i don't want to either, i read your post and i had no words apart from please, please no.

I was just horrified to see a BBC report where child traffickers are taking orphans and unaccompanied children at the border, some posing as helpers.

Where's there's a crisis there's a criminal taking advantage of the situation.

Don’t you need a DBS check to host a refugee? This will take time and many people will find it intrusive. I totally get why we don’t want predators taking in refugees and particularly children, but I wish a bit of common sense and judgement could be applied. Perhaps would-be hosts could be interviewed instead? I’ve never been convinced of the efficacy of DBS checks.

Poland has welcomed over 1 million refugees, and welcome is the word for what they have done, taking them into their homes, feeding and clothing them. I think we should try t do the same/ Most of the refugees coming to Britain, already have family to go to. so there will not be so many unattached refugees and most will be women with children.

Thinking about our own problems with people in the house. Think about what it is like for them!

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.

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.

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

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.

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. ??

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.

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 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'.

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.

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

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.

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 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.

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.