Refugees Welcome International

Why shouldn’t refugees be able to live in flatshares or houses instead of camps?

We thought so too and found a way to make it happen.

How it works

We will put you in touch with a local buddy who will liaise with you and a refugee.

We can help you find ways to pay your rent. Keep in mind, you don’t have to pay the rent yourself.

Your new flatmate will move in. Of course we will continue to support your flatshare.

Learn how the concept works See in which countries it works

Are you dissatisfied with how refugees are being treated in your country and are you interested in helping to ease the process of resettlement? Do you have a spare room in your flatshare available?

Get involved and help us welcome refugees.

We are convinced that refugees should not be stigmatized and excluded from society by being accommodated in camps. Instead, we should offer them a warm welcome. We believe we can establish a culture of open doors for refugees across the World.

So far we've matched refugees to shared flats!

WE ARE SUPER HAPPY ABOUT EVERY SINGLE MATCH!

Germany

Germany initiated the projected in November 2014 and has ever since welcomed refugees with open doors.
www.fluechtlinge-willkommen.de

Austria

Austria is welcoming refugees with open doors since January 2015.

www.fluechtlinge-willkommen.at

Greece

Greece is welcoming refugees with open doors since October 2015.

www.refugees-welcome.gr

Portugal

Portugal is welcoming refugees with open doors since October 2015.

www.refugees-welcome.pt

Spain

Spain is welcoming refugees with open doors since October 2015.

www.refugiados-bienvenidos.es

Sweden

Sweden is welcoming refugees with open doors since mid-October 2015.

www.refugees-welcome.se

The Netherlands

The Netherlands are welcoming refugees with open doors since mid-October 2015.

Contact person Daisy Petrona

Poland

Poland is welcoming refugees with open doors since mid-October 2015.

www.refugees-welcome.pl

Italy

Italy is welcoming refugees with open doors since mid-November 2015.

www.refugees-welcome.it

Canada

Canada is welcoming refugees with open doors since February 2016.

roofs4refugees.ca

Czech Republic

Czech Republic is welcoming refugees with open doors since May 2016.

uprchlici-vitejte.cz

Romania

Romania is welcoming refugees with open doors since May 2016.

(Currently no website.)

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is welcoming refugees with open doors since August 2016.

www.refugees-welcomeni.co.uk

Australia

Australia is welcoming refugees with open doors since January 2017.

www.refugeeswelcome.org.au

France

France is part of our international network since April 2018.

www.refugiesbienvenue.com

Japan

Japan is part of our international network since April 2018.

www.welgee.jp

Your Country?

If your country is not listed and you’d like to become part of our network, just write a mail to supporter@fluechtlinge-willkommen.de.

Donate via bank transfer

Mensch Mensch Mensch e.V.
IBAN: DE34430609671167120502
BIC: GENODEM1GLS
Bank: GLS Gemeinschaftsbank

We are a charitable organization. Thanks for your support!

Crowdfunding

Support the international network

View and Donate

Donate bitcoins

1. Register your flatshare

Housing refugees in private accommodation provides advantages for everyone: refugees are able to live in sound accommodation, learn the language faster, and adjust to a new environment more easily. You, on the other hand, will get to know a different culture and help a person in a difficult situation. If you want to take part in this project, sign up here. We will put you in touch with a refugee who fits you and your flatshare. When you register your flatshare, we will ask you for some more details about your living situation, such as the number of flatmates, the languages you speak, your city and surroundings etc. Such information will help us match hosts with refugees.

2. We’ll get in touch with you

Following your registration, we will help you find a suitable flatmate for you. Once we have identified someone suitable, we will put you both in touch with each other so that you can get to know each other. If everybody is happy, the refugee will move in shortly after. Our FAQ explains you why a meeting between refugee and potential flatmates should happen as soon as possible.

3. Starting the funding process

There are many options to finance the rent for a room. For the most cases in Germany the rent can be paid by the government. In countries where this is not possible, we recommend micro-donations: several people who provide small donations on a monthly basis. We sent e-mail requests to friends and acquaintances, and within two weeks we were able to ensure the rent for a whole year. The commitments range between 3€ and 50€ per month, using monthly bank transfers or up-front donations. Another option is to use an established platform to crowdfund. Contact us for more information!

4. Here we go!

After you get to know each other, your new flatmate will move in. We will support you during this time and will be there for any questions that might arise. You can always approach a local refugee organisation, such as the matching body. Many of these provide language courses, help with connecting to the community or provide support in the search for internships or admission to university classes.

Who can sign up?

Whether you live in a flatshare with friends or in a family home, anyone can sign up.

Do we have to provide for any costs?

Generally, refugees should finance themselves, or in certain cases they may receive support by the government.

Do we have to cover the rent?

We can help you find a way to finance the rent – through micro donations from your friends and family or through government funding. We can also put you in touch with one of our donors , who has pledged to support you directly.

How long can our new flatmate live with us?

In order to avoid another phase of uncertainty, and given the administrative effort, we arrange placements for a minimum of 6 months. For those placements directly funded by the government, the minimum period is 12 months. If you can offer a room for less than six months we are happy to put you in touch with a relevant organisation in your city.

What if I can offer a vacant apartment?

The principle aim of our project is to promote the experience of living together, but we are happy to forward your offer to another relevant organisation in your city.

Can I sign up if I can offer a place to sleep in our living room?

Your future flatmate should live under the same conditions as all the other residents. Given the need for privacy and stability, we can only accept flatshares offering a bed room.

What happens if we don't get along?

Before you move in together, you and your future flatmate meet up and get to know each other, see whether you get along. Should problems arise during the time of co-habitation, the same rules apply as with any other flatmate – you try and find a solution, if needed with our assistance. If it doesn’t work out you can cancel the agreement.

Does the residence status of the refugee make a difference?

Only those refugees with a residence permit are eligible for government funding. For refugees with all other statuses we will help you find a way to finance the rent. We arrange placements for all refugees irrespective of their residence status.

Does „Refugees Welcome“ make a profit by matching flatshares and refugees?

Refugees Welcome is a non-profit organization. However, you can help us increase our impact by donating directly to Mensch Mensch Mensch EV under the bank details below:
IBAN: DE88430609671167120500
BIC: GENODEM1GLS
We can provide donation receipts.
Donate now

How might things develop for the refugee?

How things develop depends on a range of factors, perhaps your flatmate has received a residence or working permit in the meantime, or has improved his language schools to increase options for employment. Ideally, you continue living together on a long term basis.

Can I also support shared flats financially?

You can support flats financially, which plan on financing the rent through micro-donations to this account:
Mensch Mensch Mensch EV
IBAN: DE61430609671167120501
BIC: GENODEM1GLS
We can provide donation receipts.

Contact

For press requests please drop us a line at presse@fluechtlinge-willkommen.de

Photos

You can download press images in high resolution..

Media reports

Our blog features previous articles about our work: fluechtlinge-willkommen.tumblr.com

Some of the media that previously wrote about us:

Mareike Geiling
Founder
Mareike Geiling studied for an MA in Religion & Culture in Berlin. She has engaged with various initiatives including running German language courses for migrants with no residency status in Berlin. During her time in Cairo 2014-15 a refugee from Mali lived in the flat she shared with Jonas Kakoschke. Mareike runs our Media and Public Relations department. As Community-Manager she also mentors our new and existing volunteer supporters and develops concepts for expanding support opportunities. She supports our host groups after a refugee moves in. At the same time she is responsible for planning and implementing the international expansion of the project.
Jonas Kakoschke
Founder
Jonas Kakoschke studied communications design in Berlin and as part of his studies founded the project Pfandgeben.de, which has gained national attention across the media. This led to an emphasis on social innovation and project development. From December 2014 to May 2105 Jonas shared his flat with a young man who had fled from Mali. Jonas is responsible for the supervision of the website, online team-tools, and the conception and graphical development of all group and project resources. Together with Mareike he is running the international expansion of the project. Additionally he coordinates our cooperation with other initiatives and with external partners.
Golde Ebding
Founder
Golde Ebding is a qualified social worker and was employed by the church welfare service from April to September 2014 to support asylum seekers at the Oranienplatz in Berlin, during the course of which she gained considerable experience and skills in refugee issues. In 2013 she had already published a work on the topic: "Flucht nach vorn?!: Lebenslinien von Flüchtlingen" (“Desperate measures?!: Refugees’ Lifelines”). Golde coordinates the practical arrangements for accommodation. She advises the host groups on legal and financial matters, organises the setting up of our nationwide partner network, and establishes contact with asylum seekers.