Transition to Lodging

We really believe that the transition to lodging is the very best way forward for your guest and we would like to encourage you to take a little time to read why.

As you probably know, Refugee Welcome Homes works with refugees from all backgrounds and we have been doing this since 2014. Over the years, we have consulted with many refugees and refugee agencies and the greatest gift we can give them is the opportunity to feel like they belong, be empowered to be in control of their own lives and support them to live in their own home. 

It’s a bit like a 3-step plan.

Step 1: As a guest in your home they have learnt how to belong in this culture which is so different to theirs and to acclimatise to the people and culture of the UK. With your support they have become settled and are in a much better place than when they first arrived.

Step 2: The next step is to help them start to feel that they are in control of their lives. We believe that moving them from a guest to a lodger is the start of this process. As a lodger, their position in your home changes. It’s a subtle change but can be a significant emotional change which we hope empowers them towards greater independence.

Importantly, transitioning to lodging allows your guest to experience what renting is like in the UK (within a safe environment) and gives them tools such as a landlord reference and a rental history which are vital to be able to rent in the UK.

Step 3: Independent private renting. The third and final step of reaching full independence. Lodgers on our scheme have gone on to rent in the private sector with confidence and ease after lodging with their host.

We ask our landlords to offer affordable accommodation to refugees. This means that we ask our

landlords to offer rent at Local Housing Allowance rates (plus bills). You can check the rates for Bristol here. 

We appreciate moving from hosting to lodging can feel like a big step but we'd really appreciate if you did consider it for you and your guest. Please call Mariya on 07394 484 799 to talk through how lodging would work for you.