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I'm wondering if there is a common term for a person or group of people who grant refuge.

I understand that a refuge is a place that provides protection or shelter of some sort, but it is often the case that someone has to grant that refuge.

That someone might be a relative giving their niece/nephew a place to stay while they get back on their feet or a nation exercising its sovereignty by granting asylum to political refugees.

Is there a name for such a person or community?

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    "In a modern context," an individual person does not grant refuge or asylum, a government does. Of course, that government is composed of people, but they are working as its agents. Could you edit your post to provide an example scenario? Are you referring, for example, to a figure like the bishop in Les Misérables?
    – choster
    Commented Dec 8, 2017 at 17:39
  • We'd normally say He gave/provided sanctuary. But I can't really see a problem with Even the mean ones seemed to warm to her, like she was a sanctuary if she herself embodies the "protection or shelter" being provided. Bear in mind many (most?) countries automatically accept "refugees", so all you're talking about there is some government functionary who in theory has no decision-making powers whatsoever.
    – FumbleFingers
    Commented Dec 8, 2017 at 18:12
  • See worldrelief.org/blog/… on obtaining refugee status in the United States. Finding a specific sponsor is close to a last step.
    – Xanne
    Commented Dec 8, 2017 at 19:30
  • @choster I've edited the post to include examples and I've reformulated the question slightly. Hopefully the question is a bit clearer now! I'd like to emphasise that an individual can also grant refuge in a less legal sense. Also you're right, the comment about 'modern context' was misleading.
    – davidjnatarajan
    Commented Dec 9, 2017 at 11:52
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    A community that grants refuge could be called a refuge.
    – GEdgar
    Commented Dec 9, 2017 at 12:19

3 Answers 3

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Legal texts typically use the term harborer (harbourer, UKSE)

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    A person might be harboured if they are a fugitive from the state. It's not usually used for a refugee, at least in BrE. (That is, harbouring is wrong as it prevents the fugitive from being brought to justice. Granting asylum has a positive connotation.)
    – Andrew Leach ♦
    Commented Dec 9, 2017 at 10:22
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Consider calling the person who takes a refugee into their home a host. The place is simply termed a place of asylum, where asylum is used in the sense of the definition below. (The country can also be called a host.)

host noun 1 A person who receives or entertains other people as guests. - ODO

asylum noun 1 (also political asylum) mass noun The protection granted by a state to someone who has left their home country as a political refugee. ‘she applied for asylum and was granted refugee status’ - ODO

Here's a wikipedia entry that uses the term country of asylum in this manner:

Here are a couple of examples where the word host is used in this context:

  • Becoming a host is an opportunity for you to show solidarity to people in need and help in a very real and practical way. - Refugees Welcome

  • But there's also a lot of relief and pleasure for the host and guest. Living with refugees neutralises fear and loathing. - The Sydney Morning Herald

Here are a couple of examples where the word host is used as a verb. This is arguably a case of zero derivation, and we can call the person or place doing the hosting a host.

  • Due to the incredible surge of interest in people offering their homes to host a refugee, Alyan’s List organisation has been developed in partnership with Australian Homestay Network to implement a placement program. - Australian Refugee (note: host here is used as a verb)

  • Ten countries host half of world's refugees - News Grid

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Given that new "sanctuary cities" are gaining new traction, this is a very timely and relevant question. While "harborer" and "host" may serve, is it time to introduce "sanctuarist" to denote someone who actively runs a sanctuary or is active in a sanctuary movement or who promotes the provision of sanctuary to those seeking it?

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    Good answers don't generally end with a question mark. This is a Q&A site and not a discussion forum, so all answers should be directly related the original question. If you want to ask a new question, you can use the "Ask Question" button on the homepage to create a new thread (and you can link back to this).
    – KillingTime
    Commented Jun 25, 2021 at 6:24

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