Gurinder is in his late 70s and has serious health problems. When he first came to us for help, he was homeless and totally dependent on the local Sikh community.
With the help of our Refugee Support Service, Gurinder now has a place to call home and is getting the support he so badly needs. This is his story.
Gurinder, is from India, where people can face violent religious and political persecution. He has been granted leave to remain in the UK but was struggling to make sense of the complex refugee system. Gurinder can’t read. He has a limited understanding of English and doesn’t know how to use smartphones or computers.
When he came to our office looking for help, Gurinder had been sofa surfing for years. He was not aware of his rights and didn’t know how to access basic services. Staying at the homes of friends and acquaintances and regularly moving from place to place is a difficult way to live, especially for someone in their late 70s.
Gurinder is in poor health. He is partially deaf, which can make it hard for him to communicate. He also has mobility issues and problems with his memory. We worried that sleeping on couches and sofa beds could make his condition worse.
We immediately helped Gurinder register as homeless with his local council so he could be added to the waiting list for accommodation. He was also booked in for the next available appointment with one of our Refugee Integration Advisors. She took on Gurinder’s case and worked closely with him to help him plan his next steps.
Gurinder’s adviser helped him apply for a pension. With the help of an interpreter, she explained what was happening and made sure he understood his rights. She also applied for a crisis grant so Gurinder could afford to buy basic essentials while waiting for his pension payments to begin.
Weeks later, when Gurinder still hadn’t received an update about his pension, his adviser contacted the authorities to find out what was going on. She explained that Gurinder’s age and health conditions made him extremely vulnerable and asked for his case to be moved forward as quickly as possible.
Four months after we made the initial claim, Gurinder finally began receiving pension payments, which were backdated to compensate him for the lengthy delay.
Meanwhile, we continued supporting Gurinder through the homelessness process. We were in regular contact with Gurinder and the authorities to make sure he understood his rights and they were aware of his health conditions, age and complex needs.
Because of his limited English, hearing issues and mobility problems, Gurinder was worried about moving into temporary emergency homeless accommodation. He decided to continue sofa surfing with friends until his local council could offer him somewhere more permanent to stay.
When a suitable property was found, we took time to explain his rights and responsibilities as a renter and made sure he understood how to pay his heating and energy bills.
We also linked Gurinder with organisations that could provide furniture and other essentials to help make his new house feel like home.
The housing authority that manages his property runs a wellbeing service for the over 60s, which provides vulnerable tenants like Gurinder with extra support. Friends from the Sikh community also pay regular visits to check in on him and make sure he’s okay.
Gurinder is settling in well at his new home. He now has somewhere safe and secure to live and is getting the financial and social support he needs.
Find out more about our Refugee Support Service and how we’re helping people like Gurinder to understand their rights and rebuild their lives in Scotland.
*Gurinder’s name has been changed
Featured image by rattanakun for Canva
