Since the launch of the EU-funded Safe Homes programme in 2022, approximately 5 700 families displaced from Ukraine received assistance to access education, training, healthcare, and support in finding their own accommodation.

On 20 June the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) announced 3 publications gathering tools, insights and lessons learnt from the programme, with the aim of encouraging authorities and civil society to design and set up future similar private hosting initiatives in emergency situations. 

The three publications are presented below. They could also be used to inform community sponsorship efforts, as these are already similar to the hosting schemes set-up in the context of the Safe Homes initiative.

• The 'Lessons learnt' report (attached below) presents challenges and good practices in hosting, drawn from first-hand experience of National Red Cross Societies and their partners in implementing the programme. The report outlines 15 key lessons for authorities involved in hosting.
• The case studies document (attached below) highlights initiatives implemented in Belgium, France, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Romania and Slovakia. Each case study offers insights into each country's legal, policy, and societal approach to welcoming people displaced from Ukraine. It identifies lessons learnt, best practices and key operational approaches that have been applied. One pager summaries were also produced for each project.
• The Handbook for practitioners, not yet published, shares advice on how to set up hosting schemes and how to safeguard and support hosts, volunteers and hosted people. It also focuses on the transition from temporary to more permanent hosting solutions.