Influence of family hosting on refugee integration and its implication on social work practice: the French case

Ran, Guanyu Jason; Join-Lambert, Hélène

Abstract

In addition to existing institutional barriers in European societies, refugee settlement and integration also faces numerous social challenges, such as discrimination and stigmatisation towards refugee groups. Family hosting is a bold refugee accommodation solution promoted by social workers across the European continent, which draws attention to the complexities of refugee support. This study examines family hosting in France to assess its influences on refugee integration in the host society. Through in-depth interviews with 34 multi-stakeholders (20 refugees, 10 hosting family members and 4 social workers) from different family hosting projects, family hosting has been proven to bring comprehensive influences to refugee integration, such as accumulation of social connection and cultivation of the sense of belonging. Nonetheless, it has also revealed potential limitations alongside the cohabitation process, for instance, the risk of negatively impacting refugees’ privacy and experience of independence. In terms of the implication for future social work practice, the evidence showed that family hosting is not a once-and-for-all solution; it depends on the refugee’s situation and requirements. In addition, for those refugees who are ready to be hosted, the research shows that different hosting schedules, either long-term or short-term, impact on how each case functions, with pros and cons.

Citation

Ran, G. J., & Join-Lambert, H. (2020). Influence of family hosting on refugee integration and its implication on social work practice: the French case. European Journal of Social Work, 23(3), 461-474. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691457.2019.1706450

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Dec 24, 2019
• Publication Date: May 3, 2020
• Deposit Date: Dec 5, 2022
• Journal: European Journal of Social Work
• Print ISSN: 1369-1457
• Electronic ISSN: 1468-2664
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 23
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 461-474
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13691457.2019.1706450
• Keywords: Family hosting, refugee accommodation, refugee integration, European social work, French social work, accueil familial, hébergement de réfugiés, intégration de réfugiés, travail social en Europe, travail social en France
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2972792