Federal Council reports on the positive impact of private accommodation on integration

The Federal Council reported that being hosted in a private household for people who have fled their country, particularly displaced persons from Ukraine, has had an overall positive impact on their integration in Switzerland.

The report, commissioned by the National Council, finds that private accommodation helps refugees manage their daily lives and supports their social, linguistic, cultural and professional integration, although these trends still need further confirmation. Close contact between refugees and host families is also seen as strengthening social cohesion and fostering greater public acceptance of refugees. However, it remains unclear whether this model leads to financial savings for the public sector: while faster labour market integration may reduce costs, the expenses related to selecting and supporting host families are significant.

The report suggests that this form of accommodation could be extended to recognised refugees and provisionally admitted persons, depending on factors such as housing availability. The Federal Council encouraged cantons to consider using private hosting as a complementary accommodation option, especially in extraordinary situations.

Finally, the government highlighted the importance of sustained civic engagement and noted that the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) will work with relevant stakeholders to support ongoing integration efforts.