Information event taking place in Cork for people considering hosting Ukrainian refugees

AN information event for anyone considering hosting Ukrainian refugees will take place next week in Cork City Hall.

The event is being hosted by Helping Irish Hosts (HIH), in collaboration with Cork City Council.

HIH matches hosts with Ukrainian guests and offers support and guidance.

The event is part of an information roadshow, with sessions being held across the country to inform people about what they need for a “successful and sustainable” hosting experience.

“Last year, we surveyed over 1,400 hosts and found that 92% have had a positive experience and 76% would recommend hosting,” the HIH co-founder and CEO, Angie Gough, said.

“It’s just fantastic to hear.

“We know that the accommodation-recognition payment (ARP) plays an important role in allowing people to keep hosting, but so too does the wraparound support provided by ourselves and our partners, the Irish Red Cross and IOM,” Ms Gough said.

“However, we estimate that a minimum of 23% of all matches are made privately and we want to ensure these ‘DIY hosts’, as we call them, are aware of the support that’s available to them should they need it.”

The event takes place in the council chamber in City Hall on May 8 at 7pm.

The event will provide up-to-date information for current hosts, as well as guidance for anyone who is considering being a host, and it is billed as an “opportunity for hosts to get together and share experiences and lessons learned, while receiving on-the-spot advice from experts and local support organisations for any stage of the hosting journey: From the early days of sharing a home to supporting guests with moving on, once the arrangement is due to come to an end”.

• To register for the free event, search ‘Host Information Roadshow – Cork’ on www.eventbrite.ie.