'How do I ... offer a room to a refugee?' diff viewer (2/3)

This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on September 11, 2015 08:24 (UTC). It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/11/how-do-i-offer-a-room-to-a-refugee

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Previous version 1 2 3 4 5 Next version

Previous version 1 2 3 4 5 Next version

Version 2	Version 3
How do I offer a room to a refugee?	How do I offer a room to a refugee?
2015-09-11 10:55:14 UTC	2015-09-13 16:50:07 UTC (2 days later)
Inspired by the images of refugees walking towards Germany, moved by the plight of those who have lost their lives trying to make it to Europe, people from around the country are eager to send the message that there is room for refugees in Britain. Charities have reported receiving a deluge of callers asking how they can take a refugee into their home.	Inspired by the images of refugees walking towards Germany, moved by the plight of those who have lost their lives trying to make it to Europe, people from around the country are eager to send the message that there is room for refugees in Britain. Charities have reported receiving a deluge of callers asking how they can take a refugee into their home.
Who needs your room? It’s not a Syrian family	Who needs your room? It’s not a Syrian family
If you have a spare room and want to give it to a refugee, it isn’t currently needed by those people whose pictures have been broadcast across the world in recent weeks. People who have an active asylum claim in the UK or who have been given refugee status may have very little to live on, but they are usually given somewhere to stay.	If you have a spare room and want to give it to a refugee, it isn’t currently needed by those people whose pictures have been broadcast across the world in recent weeks. People who have an active asylum claim in the UK or who have been given refugee status may have very little to live on, but they are usually given somewhere to stay.
The 20,000 refugees that David Cameron has said the UK will take over the next four years will come in under a scheme that will provide housing.	The 20,000 refugees that David Cameron has said the UK will take over the next four years will come in under a scheme that will provide housing.
However, there are an estimated 200,000 refused asylum seekers (pdf) living in the UK who are destitute. These are people who have been unable to prove their asylum case to the government but say they are unable to return to their home country, often Eritrea, Iran or Iraq, for fear of persecution. There are groups, often faith-based, all over the UK, who help these people find accommodation.	However, there are an estimated 200,000 refused asylum seekers (pdf) living in the UK who are destitute. These are people who have been unable to prove their asylum case to the government but say they are unable to return to their home country, often Eritrea, Iran or Iraq, for fear of persecution. There are groups, often faith-based, all over the UK, who help these people find accommodation.
Sarah Eldridge, development officer at City of Sanctuary in Sheffield, said there was a need for help at the moment – but not for Syrians.	Sarah Eldridge, development officer at City of Sanctuary in Sheffield, said there was a need for help at the moment – but not for Syrians.
“The tricky thing is, people see these beautiful children on television and the families and think wouldn’t it be lovely to be able to help them? But the reality is the few who get through will be sorted by official channels, it’s the ones falling off the radar who will need help,” she said.	“The tricky thing is, people see these beautiful children on television and the families and think wouldn’t it be lovely to be able to help them? But the reality is the few who get through will be sorted by official channels, it’s the ones falling off the radar who will need help,” she said.
Here are five ways to help house refugees in the UK:	Here are five ways to help house refugees in the UK:
1. Offer to host in your home	1. Offer to host in your home
There are many charities, often run by churches, which work to provide accommodation to destitute people who may have been refused asylum. These groups, which include Assist in Sheffield, the Boaz Trust in Manchester and Housing Justice in London, rely on volunteers to give space in their homes and are always looking to recruit more hosts.	There are many charities, often run by churches, which work to provide accommodation to destitute people who may have been refused asylum. These groups, which include Assist in Sheffield, the Boaz Trust in Manchester and Housing Justice in London, rely on volunteers to give space in their homes and are always looking to recruit more hosts.
Other groups, such as Abigail Housing in Leeds and Open Doors in Hull, provide accommodation not in family homes, but in houses lent by owners, and empty vicarages and church buildings made available by dioceses.	Other groups, such as Abigail Housing in Leeds and Open Doors in Hull, provide accommodation not in family homes, but in houses lent by owners, and empty vicarages and church buildings made available by dioceses.
In some cases this is a temporary arrangement, with people hosting for a few weeks or months – for example during the period after their guest has been given refugee status, when government support stops, but before receiving the national insurance number that allows them to work.	In some cases this is a temporary arrangement, with people hosting for a few weeks or months – for example during the period after their guest has been given refugee status, when government support stops, but before receiving the national insurance number that allows them to work.
In other cases, long-term housing support is needed. Rachel Bee, manager of the Bristol Hospitality Network, said her organisation provided accommodation for a man, an Iranian Christian who was persecuted for his faith, for six years – four of which he spent living in her home – while he tried to prove his case for asylum. “He got leave to remain last month,” said Bee. “He was always a refugee, that’s finally been recognised, but he was made destitute, with no recourse to public funds and unable to work.”	In other cases, long-term housing support is needed. Rachel Bee, manager of the Bristol Hospitality Network, said her organisation provided accommodation for a man, an Iranian Christian who was persecuted for his faith, for six years – four of which he spent living in her home – while he tried to prove his case for asylum. “He got leave to remain last month,” said Bee. “He was always a refugee, that’s finally been recognised, but he was made destitute, with no recourse to public funds and unable to work.”
2. Become a ‘philanthropic landlord’	2. Become a ‘philanthropic landlord’
In Newcastle, the Action Foundation seeks out “philanthropic landlords” who make houses they own available for refused asylum seekers to rent at a heavily discounted rate paid by the charity. The Action Foundation is always looking for new landlords to work with and other hosting charities have said they would make use of any properties people wished to rent to refugees.	In Newcastle, the Action Foundation seeks out “philanthropic landlords” who make houses they own available for refused asylum seekers to rent at a heavily discounted rate paid by the charity. The Action Foundation is always looking for new landlords to work with and other hosting charities have said they would make use of any properties people wished to rent to refugees.
Bee suggests one solution for people wishing to help would be for a group of friends, or a community or religious group, to band together and buy a house in their community, which they make available for destitute people to live in. “They’re not going to make a profit out of it, but a family would come and live nearby and they’d be able to help them integrate,” she said.	Bee suggests one solution for people wishing to help would be for a group of friends, or a community or religious group, to band together and buy a house in their community, which they make available for destitute people to live in. “They’re not going to make a profit out of it, but a family would come and live nearby and they’d be able to help them integrate,” she said.
3. Give money and time	3. Give money and time
As well as hosts and houses, these local groups also need money to support the refused asylum seekers they are helping. In most cases these people have no access to money from the government and are not allowed to work, so everything – food, transport, clothing – is provided thanks to the generosity of others. Bee said her organisation received £100 a week to split between 23 destitute people. “I’d love to encourage people to give to their local project,” she said. Other groups run drop-in centres and English classes and need volunteers who are willing to teach refugees, provide practical assistance, or just welcome them into the community.	As well as hosts and houses, these local groups also need money to support the refused asylum seekers they are helping. In most cases these people have no access to money from the government and are not allowed to work, so everything – food, transport, clothing – is provided thanks to the generosity of others. Bee said her organisation received £100 a week to split between 23 destitute people. “I’d love to encourage people to give to their local project,” she said. Other groups run drop-in centres and English classes and need volunteers who are willing to teach refugees, provide practical assistance, or just welcome them into the community.
Related: How are you supporting people caught up in the migration crisis?	Related: How are you supporting people caught up in the migration crisis?
4. Campaign for better conditions for refugees and asylum seekers	4. Campaign for better conditions for refugees and asylum seekers
Will Sutcliffe, a campaigner in Bradford, says that if people want to help, they should get informed about the reasons for destitution and start lobbying their local MP for more help.	Will Sutcliffe, a campaigner in Bradford, says that if people want to help, they should get informed about the reasons for destitution and start lobbying their local MP for more help.
“There is a deliberate attack on all forms of support for asylum seekers and people need to write and campaign and keep up to date with the issues affecting refugees in the UK. For example the government recently cut the weekly support to asylum-seeker families and these sort of campaigns are as important as providing a room,” he said.	“There is a deliberate attack on all forms of support for asylum seekers and people need to write and campaign and keep up to date with the issues affecting refugees in the UK. For example the government recently cut the weekly support to asylum-seeker families and these sort of campaigns are as important as providing a room,” he said.
5. Send a message that your community is open to refugees	5. Send a message that your community is open to refugees
Cameron has said the UK will take 20,000 refugees over the next four years. However Citizens UK believes the country has the capacity to take many more and is encouraging people to send a message to the government that their community has the space, the resources and the will to take 50 refugee families.	Cameron has said the UK will take 20,000 refugees over the next four years. However Citizens UK believes the country has the capacity to take many more and is encouraging people to send a message to the government that their community has the space, the resources and the will to take 50 refugee families.
This option is not aimed at providing housing to destitute people already in the country, but to encourage the government to accept more refugees from the camps overseas. It involves landlords pledging their properties, saying they are prepared to make them available to refugees to rent out at the local housing allowance rate for their area.	This option is not aimed at providing housing to destitute people already in the country, but to encourage the government to accept more refugees from the camps overseas. It involves landlords pledging their properties, saying they are prepared to make them available to refugees to rent out at the local housing allowance rate for their area.
Two weeks ago, eight local council areas pledged they were willing and able to take 50 refugee families, but since the photographs of Alan Kurdi hit the headlines, that number has increased to 18 councils. There are already campaign groups in local areas around the country; people living in other areas can set up their own group by emailing Citizens UK.	Two weeks ago, eight local council areas pledged they were willing and able to take 50 refugee families, but since the photographs of Alan Kurdi hit the headlines, that number has increased to 18 councils. There are already campaign groups in local areas around the country; people living in other areas can set up their own group by emailing Citizens UK.
Another idea along these lines has come from campaigner Sholi Loewenthal, who is building an app called My Refuge, which will allow people all over the world to offer a room for a refugee. He hopes that one day it will be used by governments to find shelter for new arrivals.	Another idea along these lines has come from campaigner Sholi Loewenthal, who is building an app called My Refuge, which will allow people all over the world to offer a room for a refugee. He hopes that one day it will be used by governments to find shelter for new arrivals.
Groups to contact	Groups to contact
There are many local groups you can search for. If your area is not listed and you cannot find a local group online, Dave Smith of the Boaz Trust has offered to direct anyone who wishes to help to a local group, wherever they are in the UK.	There are many local groups you can search for. If your area is not listed and you cannot find a local group online, Dave Smith of the Boaz Trust has offered to direct anyone who wishes to help to a local group, wherever they are in the UK.
Scotland	Scotland
Glasgow	Glasgow
Positive Action in Housing ~~(tel~~ ~~0141~~ ~~353~~ ~~2220)~~ coordinates accommodation for destitute asylum seekers ~~across~~ ~~Glasgow~~ and is ~~working~~ with similar groups around the UK. They are always looking for new hosts who could take an asylum seeker into their home for a short or long period.	Positive Action in Housing based in Glasgow coordinates accommodation for destitute asylum seekers and works with similar groups around the UK. They are always looking for new hosts who could take an asylum seeker into their home for a short or long period.
Edinburgh	Edinburgh
The Refugee Survival Trust provides small emergency grants to asylum seekers facing immediate destitution. If you donate to the RST the money will go directly to asylum seekers as the organisation uses grants for overheads.	The Refugee Survival Trust provides small emergency grants to asylum seekers facing immediate destitution. If you donate to the RST the money will go directly to asylum seekers as the organisation uses grants for overheads.
North of England	North of England
Bradford	Bradford
Abigail Housing is currently sheltering 19 refused asylum seekers who are destitute. It does not use spare rooms but has five properties that have been lent by owners or provided for minimal rent. The Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales has allowed the charity to house people in empty vicarages for short periods while they are unused.	Abigail Housing is currently sheltering 19 refused asylum seekers who are destitute. It does not use spare rooms but has five properties that have been lent by owners or provided for minimal rent. The Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales has allowed the charity to house people in empty vicarages for short periods while they are unused.
Hull	Hull