TREAT others as you would like to be treated – that is the message from the head of Rugby’s homelessness charity in response to a backlash at the prospect of Syrian refugees coming to Rugby.
A chorus of outrage on social media greeted news Rugby Borough Council (RBC) would find homes for 10 families among the thousands fleeing war and starvation in their homeland.
One commenter on The Observer’s Facebook page described the refugees as “foreign cowards”, while another suggested ISIS terrorists were coming to the town.
Others demonised the refugees as rapists and criminals, and called for Rugby’s homeless to take precedence.
But Revd Dr Michael Bochenski, chair of homelessness charity Hope 4, said he was very glad Rugby would be playing its part.
He said: “Helping 10 families seems a small response to such a huge humanitarian crisis.
“When I read of the hell most Syrian refugees are escaping from, one message cries out: treat others as you, or your family, would like to be treated.
“My father escaped to the UK from the hell of Poland during the Second World War. He fought with the RAF and then settled and built a family here.
“We will always be grateful that Britain was a place of safety and refuge for him, and countless others at that time.”
Warwickshire County Council (WCC) will vote tomorrow (Thursday May 12) on whether to rubber-stamp its pledge to take in at least 31 Syrian refugee families over the next four years.
RBC has already agreed to house 10 of those families. Warwick and Stratford will take 17 between them, with the remaining four going to North Warwickshire and Nuneaton.
The families will live in private housing rather than council-owned homes. Funds to help the refugees with rent, integration and learning English for their first five years in the UK will come from central Government rather than local coffers.
RBC leader Coun Michael Stokes said: “We made a commitment to play our part in the humanitarian response to the events in Syria – a commitment which reflected the concerns raised by many residents.
“We have developed a co-ordinated approach to ensure Syrian refugees receive the right care on arrival, from housing to social care and education.
“We intend to explore all housing options, including working with housing associations and forging partnerships with private sector landlords.”
The Government has promised to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees over the course of this parliament. 1,000 refugees had already been taken in by Christmas 2015 via 55 local authorities, including Coventry City Council.
