I was pleased to see that Cardinal Vincent Nichols co-signed an open letter by London church leaders calling on the government to allow Ukrainian refugees to enter the UK as quickly as possible and to expand the sponsorship criteria (News from Britain and Ireland, 19 March). But that will be only the first step in the demanding endeavour to find suitable homes for the refugees.

These will be individuals and families, mostly women with children, who have been traumatised, separated from their husbands, brothers, sons, about whose fate they will be incessantly worried. They will have complex needs beyond a welcoming warmth and love and food and shelter. They will need to be introduced to the wider community, to health services and nurseries and schools for their children. They may need specialised mental health help. They may not speak English.