But it’s also a messy, disappointing response to an overwhelming need. When decisions are made from a distance, without real consultation with those most affected, it feels like another slap in the face to the very people keeping this whole thing going.

Hosting has always been messy, unpredictable, and deeply human. But there’s magic in that mess. Since the invasion of Ukraine, over 20,000 households have stepped up, providing shelter and friendship to strangers who’ve become friends. 

Right now, 39,500 people are being accommodated under the ARP scheme. That’s 57% of all Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) being housed by the State. Those numbers are huge - enough to fill the Aviva Stadium. 

But they’re also just numbers. What really matters is the real people, the kindness and courage, behind them. The willingness of ordinary people to step in and do what needs to be done, even when the systems meant to support them are absent or failing.

What we need now is more than a blunt reduction in payments. We need a collaborative refugee response plan that acknowledges the reality on the ground and builds on what we’ve learned. A plan that listens to those doing the work instead of offering temporary fixes. Even in the mess, there’s something real and powerful worth fighting for.

In our community at Helping Irish Hosts (HIH), reactions to the reduction are mixed. Some are committed to making it work; others are anxious about how they’ll manage. We don’t yet know how many will be forced to step back. 

For people like Aileen in Kildare, Mairin in Galway and Barry in Meath, there are conversations to be had. For my family and our Ukrainian friends too.

Top-up payments are a hot topic. They weren’t part of the original plan, but the reality is they’ve become common. Guests want to contribute where they can, but the legal grey area - especially for those in self-contained accommodation - leaves everyone feeling uneasy. 

Minister Norma Foley says the ARP legislation is “silent” on top-ups, but tenancy laws complicate things. If the Government wants to allow them, they need to say so clearly. If not, they need to provide proper guidance. Leaving people guessing only adds to the stress.

Hosting isn’t the same as being a landlord. It’s about people helping people. Most hosts never intended to rent out rooms or properties. They stepped up because they cared and because they felt they could. 

But without financial support, many simply can’t keep going. 73% of hosts say they rely on the payment, it remains to be seen what happens next. This reduction isn’t just about money; it’s a stress test for a system built on goodwill. And if it starts to fall apart, the people relying on it will be left in the cold.

Helping Irish Hosts

At HIH, we’ve spent the past months planning for the reduction, knowing people will need guidance and support more than ever. But instead of rolling up our sleeves and getting stuck in, we’ve had to tell thousands of hosts and guests we can no longer support them. Our contract with the Irish Red Cross ends this month, and with it, our funding.

Our brilliant team - people who’ve poured their hearts into this work - have been handed redundancy notices. Together, we stepped up when others faltered, making thousands of successful matches, building systems, providing real, tangible support for thousands of hosts and displaced people. We made a difference.

Now, just when our support is needed most, we’re handing over to the Irish Red Cross and scaling back to our roots as a small, volunteer effort. Our website, Facebook group, and peer-to-peer network will continue. 

We’re looking at ways to put the excellent tech we’ve developed to good use and doing what we can to keep our helpline open. The spirit of hosting remains, but the structure around it is being stripped away.

And here’s the real problem: HIH has been filling the gap for the 61% of hosts and guests operating outside the official Pledge Programme. Without our support, these people are underserved and at real risk of being left without guidance or help. And with the ARP reduction, even more will fall through the cracks.

From the start, HIH wasn’t just an organisation - we were hosts ourselves. When others lost their heads, we stepped up with our hearts. We opened our own homes, learned as we went, and shared that experience with others. 

What began as a temporary response to fill a gap grew into something much more - a model that worked, that mattered. And while it’s devastating to see it come to an end, we’re proud of what we built together.

I’m so glad we jumped in when we did, before there was any payment. I’m glad we advocated for the ARP as a tool, that it was introduced, and that it unlocked so many doors. I’m grateful it’s been extended, even though it’s been reduced. 

I’m curious to see what happens next, even though I know it will be messy. But as a wise host once reminded me, “there is always magic in the mess.” 

Hosting was never meant to be a long-term solution. It’s a temporary measure that gives people time to find their feet. But in a housing crisis, where do people go when their time with a host ends? Ukraine’s not safe, and the options here are limited. 

Beyond Ukraine

The work HIH has done wasn’t just about filling a gap - it was about creating a pathway that didn’t exist before and leading by example. This willingness to help goes beyond Ukraine. 68% of hosts in our network say they’d be open to hosting people from other nationalities if proper systems were in place. 

For the 7,000 people in Direct Provision with leave to remain but nowhere to go, this model could be a lifeline. But making that happen requires more than goodwill - it takes planning, commitment, and most importantly, listening to the people doing the work on the ground and funding people like us to get on and make things happen.

Everything changes. We all know this. But the spirit of welcome that brought thousands of people together isn’t going anywhere. It’s still there. All our little lights shining. If you put them all together, they could light up the world.

The world isn’t always beautiful, but there’s beauty in people and the past three years at HIH has shown me that. And while everything changes, something good endures. 

It’s in the kindness of strangers, the courage of volunteers, and the determination of everyone who keeps going, even when the road gets tough.

Angie Gough is co-founder and CEO of Helping Irish Hosts 

If you’ve been affected by the ARP changes, visit helpingirishhosts.com or call (01) 263 0360.