Words by Smiley Team
London-based sales director Rachel Littlejohn had had enough of living with other people. That was, until Covid-19 struck and she wanted to do something to help more vulnerable people through the pandemic.
Racking her brain for how best she could support others, she fell upon the idea of offering her spare room to someone in need of accommodation through the charity Rooms For Refugees. That’s how she came to house a bright and amicable student of refugee background.
“She is genuinely the best flat mate I’ve ever had,” Rachel said, “and feeling that I’ve done something useful is so good. Offering someone something tangible is just such a powerful way to feel like I’m living my politics and making the world look a little bit more like I’d like it to look.”
Embracing their cultural differences, the pair like to share dinners together, offering each other a taste of new and exotic cuisines.
“I cooked a very bland quinoa salad and in return she prepared a phenomenal traditional Iranian salad and an aubergine dish,” Rachel exclaimed.
The pair fit around one another with ease, supporting each other’s daily needs. Each evening whoever is in will prepare oats for the other’s breakfast the next day. When Rachel accidentally ordered three kilos of carrots, her guest resolved the situation by making carrot jam and carrot cake.
“And my grocery mess-up became a really great thing,” laughed Rachel, adding: “She has seen how I run the household and she has got on board with that. She’s very considerate. I’ve found she’s had zero impact in terms of requiring much from me. I feel great about having provided a secure place for her to focus on her studies and thrive.”
Rooms for Refugees takes hosts and guests through a careful interview process to match refugees with people who can not only offer them accommodation, but who will be able to get along well with them.
In Rachel’s case, the charity picked a refugee who was, like her, vegetarian. They also share an interest in fashion and Rachel hopes she can help her guest to find work through her industry contacts.
Rooms for Refugees specialises in offering safe, temporary homes for refugees and vulnerable people without secure accommodation. They collaborate with local authorities to rapidly house unaccompanied child refugees with long term families who will care for them. To assist vulnerable refugees who are wrongfully detained simply for fleeing persecution, they provide temporary bail addresses.
As they state on their website: “We are working to fast track people out of destitution or insecure housing and put them back on the road to rebuilding their lives, getting work or qualified in order to become net contributors to our community.”
If you have a spare room you’d like to offer to a vulnerable person, sign up here.
Find more information on the Rooms for Refugees website.
