The added cost of housing a refugee family

It might be worth signing up to something like www.refugeesathome.org/ and get their emails as they will be keeping people up to date with what is happening.

If you read the FAQs they, as a charity, offer a bursary of £25 a week. I don't know how common this is and I think it will take the government some time to get up to speed and say if they are doing something.

Listening to someone from one of the charities talking about this yesterday they were saying that their shortage, at the moment, is of Home Visitors. Homes have to be checked out and they are looking for those with experience in this area.

If things are already tight it would probably be better to hold off. There's bound to be some extra expense and the atmosphere may soon become tense with the additional costs.

I think you should be careful too. There’s a lot to consider. When my daughter and her family moved in with us for two months there were a lot of teething troubles although we all settled down happily after a week or two. It may not be so easy with strangers, however much we feel for them. Added expenses, language difficulties, different generations, a lack of privacy, not to mention traumatised children in the house could be very difficult to cope with, especially for older people. I think we’ll stick to a regular monetary donation.

There's a site called Refugees at Home which has loads of information.
It's well worth a read through.
But, I can't find anywhere on there that discusses financial support.
On that site there's a form where you can email for more information, but it seems a bit grabby to ask them whether there's any financial support for the hosts!
Unfortunately it would be a deciding factor for us, as even though we have the room, we are on a very limited income, which I imagine a lot of people are at the moment.

Yikes, the postman's just delivered the council tax bill this morning and it's through the roof.

I think you are right to be cautious SnowberryZ it is probably best to wait and see just what is being offered, when how etc.
Like you we are very used to being on our own with our own routines and with DH nearly 80 it won't be for us I am afraid. I am guessing the majority will be mothers and children and I do think the elderly have to seriously consider how they will cope with small children in the house all day. It will take a lot of organisation and I wonder if it has been suggested as many Afghan refugees are still stuck in hotels which is not good for families. Of course just thinking you may be much younger than us.

I've been thinking the same thing snowberryZ as I live alone but have 2 spare bedrooms that could be used for a small family. I think more information is due to be released on Monday so will be interested to see what support is going to be available.

Good advice JaneJudge

The house will be warmer with more people in it. I've noticed when all my children come home we don't have to put the heating on as much. I think you must get some sort of payment to cover bills. Why don't you contact one of the agencies and just enquire? No one will force you to do anything.

That's what I've been reading NotSpaghetti.
There's lots of things to consider.
Because of the rising energy prices, on a cold day we will layer up and keep to one heated room. But I can't see that working with babies or young children in the house. They need to be warm.
The whole house will need to be heated.
Also there will be the extra baths and electricity use with a young family.

I think the costs are likely to be carried by the hosts. Can't imagine there will be much help.

We are thinking about it too.
It's a minimum of 6 months apparently.