The RefugeeHomeNL project has yielded significant outcomes and demonstrated that spontaneous offers of assistance from society, with the support of collaborating NGOs, have led to sustainable and secure accommodation solutions. The experiences gained from RefugeeHomeNL will be translated into an approach that can be quickly and smoothly implemented in the event of future humanitarian crises. In the meanwhile, this website will stay online to share information with host families and people who are considering to offer private shelter.

The four organizations and the ministry have collectively decided not to apply for new funding for the year 2024. The main reason for ending the program is the significant decline in demand from guests and available host families. Additionally, it has become increasingly challenging to match the preferred locations of the displaced individuals (Randstad and larger cities) with the available host families. Cohabitation through RefugeeHomeNL is typically undertaken for a 3-month period. In some cases, guests and host families decide to continue cohabiting through mutual agreement. Cohabitation generally takes place in good harmony. The need for support and guidance for these long-term cohabitants is therefore minimal. There is also a natural decline in the number of cohabitations. Some Ukrainian displaced individuals return to Ukraine, or they manage to find independent housing on their own.

Shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a significant influx of refugees began. Many tens of thousands of Ukrainians fled to the Netherlands. Simultaneously, there was a substantial spontaneous offer of assistance from our society to provide temporary shelter to these individuals. In March 2022, the initiatives of the four organizations were brought together under the name RefugeeHomeNL at the recommendation of the ministry. After several months of preparation and testing, the project was launched nationwide in the Netherlands from June 2022.

Unfortunately, we cannot provide assistance in finding independent housing for your guest. Housing and accommodation outside of our project are the responsibility of the guests themselves. We encourage you to contact your municipality for help and information.

RefugeeHomeNL is a consortium formed by four organizations, established at the initiative of the Ministry of Justice and Security. The Dutch Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Vluchtelingenwerk (Dutch Council for Refugees), and the Takecarebnb Foundation collaborate within RefugeeHomeNL with the aim of coordinating and facilitating a safe, sustainable, and humane form of private accommodation for Ukrainian displaced individuals. We bring together the needs of Ukrainian refugees with the spontaneous assistance offered by Dutch host families, providing support to both guests and host families to ensure a pleasant and secure stay. The project started in March 2022. On December 31st 2023 RefugeeHomeNL has ended.

Yes, it is possible to temporarily leave the Netherlands, for example, for family visits. In order to maintain your rights in the Netherlands, any departure must always be reported to the municipality. Upon return, the guest must also notify the municipality. The maximum duration of a stay outside the Netherlands is 28 days. Staying away longer or leaving and returning without notice can have consequences for your guest’s rights. You can find more information here.

Your guest has the following options when their stay comes to an end. These are:

1. Shelter in a Municipal Shelter
2. Finding independent housing (private accommodation outside of RefugeeHomeNL, renting, or buying)
3. Return to Ukraine or another country of origin

Municipal Shelter

As long as your guest falls under the Temporary Directive, they retain the right to shelter. For this purpose, your guest can always contact the Municipal Shelter. Initially, your guest should get in touch with the municipality where they currently live or wish to live. The municipality will assess if there is available space in that municipality. If there is no space, they will look for availability within the Safety Region. If there is still no space within the region, placement outside of the current or preferred region will be considered.

Independent Housing

Increasingly, guests are managing to find independent housing. This could be through friends or family, through another initiative for private accommodation, or by renting or buying a room or apartment. Please note: when independently renting or buying housing, your guest will lose the right to living expenses.

Return

The guest can also decide to return to Ukraine. The Return and Departure Service provides support in this process. Our advice is to first gather information through RefugeeHelp. For guests with non-Ukrainian nationality (so-called third-country nationals) who wish to return to their original country of origin, they can seek assistance from the expertise of IOM (UN Migration).

Certainly, if both the guest and the host family are comfortable with it! The Temporary Protection Directive is in force until March 4, 2025 and refugees from Ukraine remain the right to get shelter, work, education and medical care in all EU member states.

Yes, a Ukrainian car can be used in the Netherlands when it is registered. In that case, there is an exemption from the tax on passenger cars and motorcycles. To qualify for this exemption, the following conditions must be met:

• The motor vehicle is registered in the Ukrainian vehicle register
• The guest has brought the vehicle to the Netherlands themselves
• The vehicle is registered with the Tax and Customs Administration

The Tax and Customs Administration’s website provides a step-by-step explanation of how this process works.

Yes, currently your guest is allowed to drive in the Netherlands and the rest of the EU if they have a valid Ukrainian driver’s license. Ukrainian driver’s licenses that expired before 2022 need to be renewed by the Ukrainian authorities first. This can be done through the Ukrainian embassy. Ukrainian driver’s licenses that expired after 2022 will be automatically extended for the duration of the state of emergency in the country.