Ukrainian refugees in Ireland - Megathread

so , whats your solution ? How are you going to sort it out ? Do you have a house you can give indefinitely to someone ? How would you sort this issue out ? Would you build 40k houses overnight ? Or would you expect 40k houses to be pledged for years ?. How many houses have you to spare to pledge ?

I am interested to hear your great idea for this emergency ?

I stayed out of this conversation for my own sanity when I saw some posters ridiculing someone who was willing to offer an empty house for 6 months when it's clear they themselves have done nothing for anyone.

So firstly iamwhoiam, well done you and your family for offering the house to the red cross. I don't understand why they're not acting faster seeing as there are already Ukrainians in hotels. Surely 6 months in a house is preferable to 6 months in a hotel.

We have offered accommodation also, large bedroom, single bedroom and living room with TV etc which is separate to our living space. To me it seems ideal, not as good as separate house but still lots of space. I got a follow up call from the red cross last week and they said they'd be in touch this week re garda vetting etc. Its all so slow.

My biggest concern is the length of time... we have committed to one year but honestly I can't see a lot of the Ukrainians heading back in a year. Even if the war is over tomorrow, there's so much rebuilding to do. I mentioned this to the woman who rang from the red cross and she said if at the end of one year you can't commit for longer they will be placed in a hotel or other accommodation. However this is the part that worries me, we are rural so kids would enrol in local school and make friends. So it would be very hard at the end of one year to say ok pack your bags, you're moving. Part of me thinks it's still worthwhile to offer 'sanctury' for a year and would allow the family time to settle in and learn English, get a job etc but I am concerned about that aspect of how it all 'ends '.

Of course its possible at the end of a year, we are happy for the arrangement to continue until such a time as they do return home or settle in Ireland but its a big unknown.

I do think though that offering an empty house when you could sell or rent it is such a lovely kind gesture, do not get the negativity on boards sometimes

And well done to you and your family . I see tonight on the news that hotels and BandB’s are full and they are now going to Millstreet Arena . They will have camp beds with partitions in a large space

Now no one can tell me that if a mother with 3-4 children would choose Millstreet over a furnished 4 bed house . I am quite sure that even if its only for 6 months that some family would gladly take that six months

People are saying that they would be then disrupted after six months but they also wont be long term in many hotel or indeed sport halls etc .

I see a huge need for short term of six months until the government step up and sort out the whole issue of housing

If they now turn down offers of less that a year they are biting off their nose to spite their face as it will be a huge loss of beds and shelter

I wish you and your family the very best and hope everything works out for you all

It’s kicking the can down the road as usual. What will the attitude be when they are competing for social housing and public hospital beds. This will turn into a class divide issue too.

Sorry i have to quote your whole post too ! But yes I see your point and you are right of course . But I still think that offering a furnished vacant house for six months is better than nothing . I was criticised for not offering it indefinitely by a few posters so still trying to make the point that if that offer is not good enough for the Red Cross then so be it

Myself and my partner offered put house to share. We don't have any kids, only downside was that we were a 5k away from two main towns. Buses pass through every couple hours so least they have that.

We got a mother and her 2 kids which are joining local school next Monday when re opens.

She herself was a school teacher and the kids have ok English.

Myself and partner are happy to have them over 6 months. To be honest I be shocked if it was for less than 1 or 2 years.

Or house is big enough to have that free space for us . It's all good.

The stories from their home are scary but her stories from when they arrived are pretty sad way things are not organised.

That sounds great, really hope it all works out for you all. I have that concern also as we are also far from the nearest town but then I'd imagine they're not coming here for entertainment and just want a roof over their heads and security for their children.

I'm expecting to see the hordes of empty units such as the ones Kennedy Wilson have at Capital Dock to suddenly become available at a premium to the Govt for rent.

That building has been half filled for years. Full of brand new apartments being witheld from the market.

will house prices not skyrocket ?

thats what usually happens when demand outstrips supply.