Welcome Homes
Mobilising Christians to respond to the Biblical call to hospitality through serving the accommodation needs of refugees.
Why has Welcome Churches started this project?
Thousands of refugees across the UK are currently living in temporary accommodation due to a lack of available housing. Here at Welcome Churches we believe that everyone deserves to have a place that they can call home, and that the UK Church has a particular responsibility to try to help find homes for those seeking refuge in our communities.
Welcome Homes exists to encourage and equip Christians to practically demonstrate hospitality towards those seeking refuge in the UK through offering housing and hosting. Building on the growth of public interest in hosting initiated by the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, Welcome Homes seeks to grow and sustain a national culture of hospitality towards refugees.
Refugees and people seeking asylum face many challenges as they begin rebuilding their lives in the UK. The lack of social housing and rising rental prices present significant difficulties to people who have recently been granted refugee status, and unfortunately many people who have sought asylum in the UK experience destitution and homelessness. Without stable accommodation arrangements, it is difficult to fully settle in a community and feel a sense of belonging. The need that Welcome Homes is responding to is therefore two-sided:
Hosts who are willing to offer a space in their home to refugees and asylum seekers, as a short term solution that prevents homelessness.
Landlords who will offer affordable (at LHA rates) long-term housing to refugees that will provide them with the safety and stability they need.
How can Churches get involved?
Welcome Homes consists of two elements for churches and individuals to get involved:
Hosting: an online platform to connect people with a local hosting programme. There are many excellent programmes across the country through which people host refugees in their own home. In partnership with NACCOM (The No Accommodation Network) Welcome Homes will connect you with a hosting scheme based on what you are able to offer and the current need in your area.
Housing: Welcome Homes includes a service to connect landlords with refugee tenants. We aim to inspire socially-minded landlords to offer their property at Local Housing Allowance rates, and connect them with suitable refugee tenants. Welcome Homes will then offer support through the tenancy set-up period for both landlords and tenants. Welcome Homes will be a space where hosts, landlords and churches can access resources, training and support, and will also produce informative resources for refugees about accommodation in the UK.