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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsOne year anniversary
One year ago I invited a family of Ukrainian war refugees to share my house. Dad, mom, two middle school age sons and a five year old daughter. I dont know if they were able to get any of their money out of Ukraine when they fled to Poland. I dont pry into their personal life. My house is paid off so I dont need or even want rent income. It would just complicate my taxes.
More people use more water and more electricity so the utility bills are a little larger. They qualified for food stamps and the Oregon health plan. We share cooking and cleaning duties. We respect each others boundaries and have built up mutual trust.
Both dad and mom are working and the kids are in school. Like most immigrants they work hard and are assets to the community.
I figure I have saved them at least $25,000 in rent and utilities at almost no cost to me. They have enriched my life.
Diamond_Dog
(32,339 posts)leftieNanner
(15,223 posts)How did you connect with the family in the first place? I have thought about doing something like this.
central scrutinizer
(11,695 posts)I heard about this organization from a PSA on a local public radio station. Its like a dating site that links up homeowners who have room with people who are looking for housing. Everyone is vetted with criminal background checks. Serendipitously I joined at about the same time as the Ukrainians. I had three empty bedrooms and I thought a family of five would not get many offers. So I opened a conversation with them and here we are.