My house is full again

[central scrutinizer]

I was feeling guilty about having empty bedrooms when there is a housing crisis here. Not enough options and many are overpriced. I joined a home share website and one posting caught my attention.

A Ukrainian refugee family, mom, dad, two tweener sons and a four year old daughter, looking for housing. I had three vacant bedrooms. It’s tight but they’ve moved in. I love the new energy. My crotchety old cat isn’t too thrilled, though. She’s not getting her normal 22 hours of sleep.

They sent the kids to Italy for safety right after the Russian invasion and only recently got out themselves and came to the US. Their stories of living in an active war zone are sobering.

Talking Heads lyrics: “Sound of gunfire off in the distance, I’m getting used to it now… You should know not to stand by the window, someone will see you up there.” popped into my head.

Looking for jobs, checking the kids into local schools for the two months before summer vacation.

I’m charging them $50/month to pay for the added utilities (showers and laundry).They’ll need any money they have and can save so eventually they’ll have their own place. I hope they’ll feel comfortable enough to stay for at least the rest of the year because I have travel plans and finding reliable house sitters can be a challenge.

[onecaliberal]

1. Hello human kindness. Thank you!

[central scrutinizer]

10. I'm very fortunate

That my income from social security and my union pension is more than adequate for my simple needs. My house is paid off and I have no debts so I don’t need or even want more income. It would just complicate my taxes.

[onecaliberal]

15. Even so, it is the most impactful thing to them. You're giving them a chance at living.

[leftieNanner]

2. How wonderful for you!

I have thought about doing something like that.

But we moved and seriously down sized.

[Lifeafter70]

3. K&R

Thanks for doing this. We also have a full house again. My disabled son moved back home with his kittens. Not long after that my grandson and his 4 year old son joined us. Our house is small but full of love.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

4. Thank you for assisting these people in their time of need

[badhair77]

5. That is so kind of you and it seems

as if you’re benefitting just like your guests. What an inspiration. I wish you all the best.

[central scrutinizer]

27. I always get as much as I give

I’ve hosted many international students and others through programs like AFS and the Friendship Foundation of the University of Oregon. I get glimpses of life and culture (and recipes) in Thailand, China, Japan, Pakistan, India, Germany. I’m still in touch with many of them.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

6. You're my hero now. Your cat will get used to more humans to train.

(There are better audio versions out there, but this one has lyrics).

[No Vested Interest]

7. Wonderful!! Best story I've read in a long time! Kudos to you!!

[1WorldHope]

8. Wonderful! I also have a big empty house.

I've felt guilty for a while that there are so many people in need of housing. I will look for similar web site in neb. That is walking the talk. Blessings to you and your new family.

[central scrutinizer]

9. The website I used was

Homeshareoregon.org. Obviously it’s centered on Oregon but there may be something similar in your area. There is a lot of vetting involved for owners and renters so it feels pretty secure, unlike the cesspool of scammers and creeps known as Craigslist.

[Karadeniz]

11. Fabulous news for everyone!!!

[grantcart]

12. Wonderful news, thanks for sharing.

[Marthe48]

13. The Biden administration announced a sponsorship program

just a few months ago. The plan was to have several people sponsor Ukrainian refugees in the U.S.

I think this link is about that program: https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/news/biden-administration-announces-private-sponsorship-refugees-program

You are so kind to open your home. Enjoy your new family!

[central scrutinizer]

17. They had a sponsor to get here

But the sponsor lived 15 miles away from a small town. There was little hope of finding work there and the kids were bored and isolated. Not even reliable internet. The school district didn’t want to deal with two new students this late in the school year. So moving to Eugene or Portland was mandatory.

[Marthe48]

19. Good to know

I don't know how people would do in my area. Good for college students, maybe not so much for families trying to get on their feet.

[Abigail_Adams]

14. This sounds great for all concerned.

I hope it works out!

[Kali]

16. thank you

I love this.

[raccoon]

18. That's so kind of you.

[Farmer-Rick]

20. I looked up some of those house share programs

They look very interesting.

[tavernier]

21. I Love You.

[MLAA]

22. Wonderful! You are an earth angel for them!

[marble falls]

23. It's very good of you to do this! It's a shame that the solution to any sort of homelessness is ...

... put on the shoulders of good people like you.

But to put that statement in perspective:

https://www.newsnationnow.com › us-news › report-how-many-homes-are-sitting-empty-in-your-state
Report: How many homes are sitting empty in your state
Mar 30, 2022Millions of homes are sitting vacant around the country, even as the housing market reaches new highs in many states. (Photo: Getty Images) (NEXSTAR) - More than 16 million homes are sitting vacant across the U.S., according to a report using census data. The study by LendingTree ranked the nation's 50 states by their shares of unoccupied ...

https://www.self.inc › info › empty-homes
Homelessness & Empty Homes: Trends Since 2010 | Self.
There are 33 empty properties for each homeless person in the US. Since 2010, the number of empty properties per homeless person has increased 24%. Nationally, 12.3% of housing units in 2018 were vacant. In 2019, 555,672 US citizens were confirmed homeless. Since 2010 there has been a 7.2% increase in the vacant housing units.

dlel.nycs.net-freaks.com › 2023 › 02 › 02 › what-is-the-actual-housing-vacancy-rate-census-bureau
What is the Actual Housing Vacancy Rate, Reported by the Census Bureau ...
Feb 2, 2023"Approximately 89.9 percent of the housing units in the United States in the fourth quarter 2022 were occupied and 10.1 percent were vacant," the Census Bureau report says. On page 4, we see that in Q4, 2022: Total number of housing units: 143.95 million. Year-over-year increase in housing units: +1.34 million

The housing market is a manipulated market.

[dchill]

24. Good on you!

[orleans]

25. how wonderful you are able to do this -- and wonderful that you are doing this!

i think it's great!

[TNNurse]

26. Thank you for being a especially decent human being.

[Fla Dem]

28. You are a good person. That says it all.

I hope their time with you will grow into a warm friendship that will last for many, many years.

[republianmushroom]

29. Bless you

and thank you for your compassion

[MOMFUDSKI]

30. You

are the best of us. Thank you.

[Deuxcents]

31. Your post is inspiring and I'm so glad your house is full of life

What a totally selfless and wonderful heart you have to share with this family that will never forget you..nor you them, I’m sure! 🌺

[Aussie105]

32. Hospitality.

Hospitality, the caring and sharing, kindness to strangers. Often preached but rarely carried out.

It is what makes any country great. Well, your particular corner of America, at least.

You are going above and beyond, hats off to you.

Hope it goes well, as I'm sure all of us on DU do.

[central scrutinizer]

34. I'm an atheist and a socialist

Atheists do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do. Not from fear of some angry sky wizard. I believe in the maxim, “from each according to their ability, to each according to their needs.”

[Not Heidi]

38. Hear, hear.

I'm with you.

[Not Heidi]

39. Hear, hear.

I'm with you.

[OldBaldy1701E]

33. You are a wonderful person for doing this.

And, I hope everything works out for them and you. So, I guess the white zone is for families and families only. If you have a family, go to the white zone. You'll love it. It's a way of life.

[FakeNoose]

35. It's a wonderful heartwarming story - thanks for sharing

I don't know what part of the country you're in, so it might make a difference. But here in Pittsburgh, we have a couple of Ukrainian churches (I believe they're Eastern Orthodox) and they offer welcoming support for Ukrainian newcomers. They can help refugees/immigrants with language barriers, explaining our "ways" so newcomers get acquainted etc.

If you have an Eastern Orthodox or Russian Orthodox church nearby, you might contact them to see whether they offer welcoming services that your visitors would appreciate. God bless you for your generosity!

[central scrutinizer]

36. I live in Eugene, Oregon

Thanks for the good advice. There are large Russian communities in the Woodburn/Portland area, about 100 miles north of here. My family came from eastern Ukraine, close to the border with Russia. They speak Russian, not Ukrainian. Google says there is a Ukrainian orthodox church here as well. I’ll take them there soon.

[Not Heidi]

37. Thank you for doing this, c.s. n/t

[Victor_c3]

40. I never heard of such a program

I’m envious, I wish I had a house I could share with people like that.

Talk about making a difference in the world!

When I no longer have school-aged children, I will have to keep programs like that in mind.