Thank you for considering hosting families and individuals who are fleeing the war in Ukraine. We are thrilled to see the response of our community to welcome our visitors with open arms.

It is important to consider the responsibilities and risks as you consider hosting families, and what may be involved short and longer term.

We encourage anyone who is offering to host, to read the information on this website and use the resources provided to ensure that you and your guests will be safe throughout this journey.

What’s involved in hosting?

You are inviting guests to stay with you in your home, so depending on who you match with or choose to host, this includes anything and everything you would do if you were hosting your own family who had never been to Canada before.

Medical appointments, Service Ontario trips, paperwork, shopping for food, clothing, and necessities, drivers license applications and testing, etc. are all things your family will need help with. Your family can apply for $500 for 6 weeks through Ontario Works, but a financial and time commitment is to be expected.

How do I get matched with a family?

Matches are facilitated at first through core volunteers working with Ukraine Help Middlesex. If you have already completed a contact form or indicated via the facebook group that you would like to host, we’ll add you to a regular contact list to let you know when families are looking for a match.

If you have not completed a contact form yet, please do that as your first step.

Volunteers with Ukraine Help Middlesex will be in touch to ask follow up questions and ensure a good fit with families seeking assistance. Once the initial match is considered a good fit, we encourage hosts to connect as soon as possible with their Ukrainian visitors.

Making first contact – tips

• Make the first contact by chat (Facebook messenger, What’s app, etc.) or phone.
• Mutually share your social media profiles to help validate your identities.
• Mutually share some photos.
• Share photos of the accommodation offered, living environment, neighbourhood.
• Make the other party comfortable by voluntarily providing information about yourself and by being open to questions.
• Organize several video meetings (Zoom, Facetime, google hangouts, etc. ) to get to know each other.
• If there is a language barrier, find someone who can assist and translate. If you need help to find someone – contact your Ukraine Help Middlesex ambassador for a referral.

Questions to Consider:

• Duration of stay (temporary or longer term).
• Other types of assistance, including financial support.
• Work, studies, occupation of the persons involved.
• Transportation (rural location, rides, loan of a car, etc.).
• Comfort with pets (either coming with the family, or residing with hosts)
• Health problems that can affect your daily life.
• The compatibility of your lifestyles. Visualize a typical day.
• What is everyone going to do? Sharing of tasks, etc.
• Organization of transport from the airport to the housing location.
• Motivations of each party in the context of matching.

Next Steps and Suggested Safety Considerations

• Mutually decide whether you want to proceed with matching and
  clearly communicate your decision.
• Hosts: Please provide two references (names, contact information and
  relationship to you).
• Identify each other by presenting an ID with a photo.
• Take note of: names, addresses, phone numbers.
• Pay attention to expiration date of the documents

CRIMINAL RECORD CHECK

We suggest that hosts get a criminal record check through their local police. 

If at any time either party feels unsafe or feels there are any red flags, you can always discuss and decide whether to pursue a match.

• Record Checks – London Police
• Contact your Local OPP detachment
• Ontario Government Background Information on Police Record Checks