Ukraine Engagement in Germany

As a result of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the number of refugees in Germany increased sharply, highlighting the importance of private and voluntary support anew. The project examined who  The project examined who engages, what motivates them, what kind of experiences they have, how refugees were accommodated and how homestay accommodations were organized. Quantitative surveys of hosts and volunteers were conducted, complemented by qualitative background interviews. The aim was to gain detailed insights into the structures, practices, needs, and challenges of civic engagement. The findings provided a better understanding of the organizational and social dynamics of support for refugees from Ukraine and beyond, and served as a basis for practical recommendations for policy makers, public administration, and civil society.

Research into the structures and practices of homestay accommodation, motivations, fields of activity, challenges and resources of those involved had been insufficient. We also fill a research gap on differences and similarities to earlier phases of engagement. 

• Document the state, and practices of homestay accommodation for refugees from Ukraine. 
• Analyze the motivations, activities, and experiences of volunteers. 
• Identify the challenges, enabling factors and support needs in homestay accommodation. 
• Develop practical recommendations for policy makers, public administration, and civil society. 

• The project results showed, among other things, that digital platforms such as #UnterkunftUkraine played a major role in the private accommodation of refugees from Ukraine.  
• 58 % of hosts were first-time volunteers. The hosts are similar in profile to those who have volunteered in the past. 
• Experiences were largely positive for hosts, even over time, and the vast majority of them would be willing to take in refugees again in the future.  
• More than half took in refugees for longer than six months. 
• The willingness to provide homestay accommodation extends beyond refugees from Ukraine. However, a reluctance to take in male refugees 
  makes it clear that homestays cannot be mobilized equally for all demographic groups. 

• Etlar Frederiksen, Sifka; Haller, Liam; Uhr, Theresa (2024): Motivations and Views on State Support for Refugees: Distinguishing Between Politically and Socially Engaged. Global Networks 25 (1). DOI: 10.1111/glob.12514.
• Haller, Liam; Uhr, Theresa; Etlar Frederiksen, Sifka; Rischke, Ramona; Yanaşmayan, Zeynep; Zajak, Sabrina (2022): New platforms for engagement: Private accommodation of forced migrants from Ukraine. DeZIM.insights Working Paper 5, Berlin: Deutsches Zentrum für Integrations- und Migrationsforschung (DeZIM).
• Haller, Liam; Rischke, Ramona; Yanaşmayan, Zeynep; Etlar Frederiksen, Sifka (2025): Beyond Shelter: The Promise and Challenges of Refugee Homestay Accommodation. Voluntas - International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations. DOI: 10.1007/s11266-025-00745-z.