This morning I spent a hectic few hours in Scottish Refugee Council’s client services Once Stop Shop. During this short time I noticed a devastatingly reoccurring theme, worried faces speaking of the threat of destitution.
So many people were there asking about the eviction letter they received from their housing provider, Y-people. “What if they change the lock? What can I do? I have no friends, no family”
I learned that since Y-People lost the contract to house asylum seekers, the number of people they were housing on a charitable basis has come to light. They have been providing accommodation to people who have had their asylum claims refused, which they have no contractual obligation to do.
Y-people have faced criticism for the flood of eviction notices they have sent but equally concerning is the UK Government’s policy – a root cause of the destitution.
Y-people’s charitable actions were merely mitigating the effects of the policy in Glasgow. Approximately 120 vulnerable asylum seekers are currently living on Glasgow’s streets receiving no support from the UK government. Plus a further 84 (approximately) are facing eviction at present.
Forced into homelessness by government policy
I think it is important to remember that these people are given no options – they cannot work to support themselves, as they are legally prevented.
They cannot return to their home countries; which include Iran, Iraq, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and Somalia, as is not safe or possible to do so, a fact recognised by the UK Border Agency (UKBA). Yet they are denied support and in effect forced into street homelessness by government policy.
Research looking at true extent of destitution in Glasgow
In a recent blog Rachel Devlin wrote about the research being conducted by Scottish Refugee Council, which aims to determine the true extent of the destitution problem in Glasgow.
Denial of entitlement – a tool to deter asylum seekers and control refugee numbers?
In 2005 the House of Lords decided that if an asylum seeker was denied support and made clear that charitable support was not available, the Secretary of State had a duty under the Human Rights Act to avoid this situation, which could amount to a breach of the person’s right to be free from torture, inhuman or degrading treatment (Article 3, European Convention of Human Rights).
Surely the same is true of asylum seekers who have had their claim refused but for whom it is recognised as impossible to return home?
Share your thoughts
My experience today allowed me to truly see the extent of the problem and the destitution asylum seekers face. And I’m shocked.
Please share your thoughts below:
