Sligo hosting 423 displaced Ukrainians
IN Sligo there are currently 423 Ukrainian guests living in 173 host homes.
This represents 17% of the total number of Ukrainians who have arrived in the county since the invasion of Ukraine. Nationally, 25% of all arrivals from Ukraine are currently living in host homes or pledged accommodation.
One host, Kathleen McKiernan, shared these words about her family's experience: "Being a host has been one of the best things our family has done.
“When all this started, we felt that we needed to do something and we had a spare bedroom so we contacted Helping Irish Hosts and the process was straightforward after that.
Sharing our home doesn't come without challenges but being able to give our guests a sense of security and base from which to start their journey here in Ireland has been truly rewarding."
This week, a survey shows that 92% of people hosting Ukrainians have had a positive experience and 76% would recommend hosting to someone else.
The research was presented by Helping Irish Hosts and the Irish Red Cross to Oireachtas members at a briefing in Leinster House on Wednesday, 31 January.
Angie Gough, CEO and Co-Founder of Helping Irish Hosts, says: "The research reaffirms everything we've seen over the past 22 months. Hosting is having an incredible impact - for the hosts, their guests and also their communities.
“While it's not the right option for everyone and it's not a long-term solution, it does offer a key integration opportunity for people seeking refuge in this country. Our priority is to nurture the host response as a significant part of the refugee accommodation solution, while acknowledging its limitations and advocating for the changes needed to sustain it.”
The Consortium of organisations responsible for activating pledged accommodation is still receiving around 300 accommodation pledges a month.
The briefing to Oireachtas members also heard that the savings to the taxpayer are in the region of €386 million annually, when compared to state accommodation.
At the briefing, the group presented recommendations to Government and offered resources to support constituents and communities that are hosting. Key asks included extending the proposed 90-day policy for new arrivals to reduce the risk of harm to already vulnerable groups, and widening the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) to include Programme Refugees who have been granted status in Ireland.
Angie Gough says: “We know that 76% of people were motivated to host out of solidarity, or compassion. This is hugely inspiring, but we also know that the monthly ARP is a fundamental and brilliant tool in facilitating and sustaining hosting.
“From our conversations with hosts, it's clear that there is a strong will in this community to extend the welcome currently being shown to Ukrainians, to all refugees. Alongside our Consortium partners, we are ready to draw on the current frameworks in place to pilot this approach.”
The Consortium is a partnership that is funded by DCEDIY and led by the Irish Red Cross, comprising Helping Irish Hosts, Peter McVerry Trust and IOM, to activate pledged accommodation on behalf of the Irish State and to retain and extend host arrangements.