Moving On
Hosting is not meant to be forever!
We know a lot of our hosts have had guests since the start of the war. If you’ve reached the end of your hosting journey, thank you. You may be feeling guilty or uneasy about this but please don’t. What you have done is amazing. Hosting was never intended to be long-term; it was to give your guests a soft landing to help them find feet for their next steps. You have done that and more.
Below we have detailed some tips on how to help your guest to move on to the next stage of their journey.
The next stage of the journey
Set aside time to chat honestly - Hopefully you've been chatting openly since your guests first arrived but we know this topic can be daunting. Sit down together to hear each other's concerns and try to understand where you are each coming from. Remember that hosting in your home was never a long-term solution and we are all just helping each other to the next stage.
Look at the options together – can your guest ask other Ukrainian contacts for advice? Would they like to look for another host themselves on social media? Can they explore renting a home of their own? If yes, have they connected with local estate agents, groups and online rental websites? Don't be afraid to be realistic and remind guests of the housing crisis in Ireland to manage their expectations.
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Use our Conversation Guide to Moving On to plan out that conversation with your guests.
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See how it went for one of our team - Watch our video below!
Onward Accommodation
Personal Networks
If your guest wishes to remain in the same geographical area, then the best approach is to use local networks. Tell people about the challenges and rewards of hosting. Spread the word via community groups, schools, religious organisations or online groups that you are part of. Sharing your experience may be the nudge that someone needs to decide to host.
Local Authorities
It’s also worth contacting your local authority directly regarding onward hosting. We've had some good experiences of hosts contacting local authorities directly and being allocated follow-on properties that way. You can reach out to your county’s Ukraine Community Forum team by emailing communityforum@[insertcounty]coco.ie, e.g. communityforum@wicklowcoco.ie.
State Accommodation
For some guests the best option may be to access state-provided accommodation via the Government’s Ukraine Crisis Temporary Accommodation Team UCTAT. Unfortunately, due to high demand, there is no guarantee about the standard or location of the accommodation that will be offered. Citywest is open for accommodation requests Monday - Friday between 9am and 6pm. Contact IPAS Helpdesk for support at UkraineTempAccom@equality.gov.ie / ipasinbox@equality.gov.ie or call 01-2376100.
Steps to follow to properly transfer ARP payments
When a guest is moving from one hosted accommodation to another please follow these steps to ensure the ARP payment is correctly transferred. Failing to follow these steps may lead to a delay in payment to one or both hosts.
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The guest discusses the move with the current and new hosts and agrees on a moving date. Note: The ARP is administered based on where a guest resides on the last calendar day of the month, so bear this in mind when agreeing a moving date. See this webpage for more information on how the ARP is administered https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving-country/ukrainian-refugees-in-ireland/accommodation-recognition-payment/
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The guest moves to the new accommodation
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If the guest is claiming social welfare payments, they notify the Department of Social Protection of the change in their address, via their Intreo office or www.mywelfare.ie
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The old host emails ARP@welfare.ie to let them know the guest has moved out
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Only when the guest has moved into their new accommodation should the new host apply for the ARP via www.mywelfare.ie Note: Attempts to apply in advance for the ARP may result in the application being rejected with no explanation, or the existing payment being stopped prematurely.
The Department of Social Protection oversees the ARP payment. The payment is paid by bank transfer, in arrears, on the 2nd Tuesday of the month. It is also possible to contact the ARP helpline to discuss your application at 0818 708090 or ARP@welfare.ie
Staying Connected After Hosting
For those of you whose hosting arrangement has come to an end, we want to say THANK YOU!
Thank you for all you’ve done to provide a safe landing and a stepping stone for someone who needed it. Hosting isn’t intended to be forever - it’s a short-term accommodation option that has a big impact in the long run. We’re so grateful to all the hosts who’ve stepped up during this crisis.
You’ve played a really important role. Now it’s time for your guests to move on to their next step. You might be finished hosting for good or simply taking a break before welcoming a new guest who needs the support for a while. Whatever your situation, we invite you to stay connected! Your experiences, insights and tips are really valuable.
Repledging
If your guests have moved on and you are interested in pledging again you can contact the Irish Red Cross on 1800753343 or email migrationcrisis@redcross.ie
It’s just fabulous to get experienced hosts back on board 💛💪💙
Advocacy
Even if you are no longer able to host, we hope you will continue to be part of our community – you can support us by telling others about your hosting experience. This may encourage others to become involved too!🍃 -
Volunteering
If you are interested in volunteering with us, please contact us at volunteers@helpingirishhosts.com. We have some wonderful volunteers at HIH who make an enormous contribution to our team and we’d love you to join us too! 💛🙏 💙