The Impact of Private Hosting on the Integration of Ukrainian Refugees

Abstract

Amidst the Ukrainian displacement crisis, private hosting of refugees in Europe has surged, yet its impact on integration remains understudied. This research investigates the effects of private hosting on Ukrainian refugee integration in Germany. Utilizing data from one of the largest non-profit matching platforms for private refugee accommodation, we compare multidimensional integration outcomes of refugees matched with private hosts with observably similar refugees who applied for private hosting but were not matched. Our findings indicate a significant improvement in the social, psychological, and navigational integration of refugees hosted privately, with no discernible effects on linguistic, economic, and political integration. This study provides causal evidence on the effectiveness of private hosting in improving refugee integration, highlighting its potential to complement traditional public asylum reception and housing systems and to leverage civil society engagement for refugee integration during humanitarian crises.

Ukrainian Refugees in Switzerland: A research synthesis of what we know

“…Most host family arrangements are stable and stay in place for a long period (Strauss, Fuchs, and Ammann 2023); around half of the Ukrainian refugees who moved out of host families did so because they found their own accommodation. Host families are helpful for social integration and can help refugees with practical and administrative questions, and attempts to find paid work (Strauss, Fuchs, and Ammann 2023;Eser Davolio et al 2023;Ammann Dula et al 2024;Herpell et al 2024). Support for host families by officials varies a great deal by canton.…”

“…A large and systematic study in Germany found no effect of living with a host family and the ability to find paid work (Herpell et al 2024). While living with host families improves social integration and the ability to navigate everyday situations, language acquisition and economic integration do not appear to follow suit systematically (Herpell et al 2024).…”

“…An ad-hoc survey in the canton of Zürich in early 2023, however, found that most Ukrainians living with host families would describe their relationship as 'friendship', spending time and sharing information with them (Eser Davolio et al 2023). A more extensive and systematic study in Germany highlighted the benefits of living with host families, suggesting that conflicts have on average been less serious than some feared (Herpell et al 2024).…”

“…In many European countries, Ukrainian refugees have the possibility to stay with host families (Thränhardt 2023b;Herpell et al 2024). The share of refugees staying with host families can be as low as 10% or 11% in Ireland and France, or as high as 80% or 90% in Italy and the UK (Thränhardt 2023b).…”

“…For Germany, around a fifth of Ukrainian refugees have moved since arriving to Germany, most often in the same city or municipality (Siegert et al 2023). Indeed, it is rare for Ukrainian refugees in Germany to stay with host families for more than a year, with most moving after 1 to 4 months (Herpell et al 2024). The main reason for moving was that they had found a more suitable place.…”