Migration and asylum Sally Daghlian OBE Chief Executive
OUR VISION CONTEXT
Global context • Conflicts creating refugee movements • Human trafficking and forced labour • Globalisation and development • Over 65 million people displaced globally • 86% of refugees hosted in developing countries; 0.79% in UK
UK context • Demonization – hostile environment • Blocking access to services – housing, health • Rising homelessness and destitution • Focus on ‘reconnections’ as the only solution • Immigration Act – internal controls/criminalisation • Brexit – hate crime increasing
Tower Hamlets context • 69% of residents from minority ethnic groups • New migrants: low employment and high homelessness/insecure housing • Migrants struggle to access healthcare – lack info on how system works, how to access it, and what they are entitled to • 46% of children in Tower Hamlets live in poverty – highest in UK
OUR VISION THE ISSUES
Homelessness Destitution Immigration Trafficking status Domestic violence Status of family
NRPF ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ (NRPF) is not an immigration status • It may be a condition of somebody’s permission to be in the UK (e.g. spouse or student visas) • It may be a default position because somebody does not currently have permission to be in the UK • False assumption
What are public funds? A range of benefits, generally related to lower incomes and housing support, including: • Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) • Housing benefit • Local authority homelessness assistance • Disability Living Allowance
Legal Aid Legal Aid cut for applications on basis of private or family life, such as: • Any applications based on length of stay in UK • Any non-British sole carer of British child • Non-British partners of British citizens (must now also earn minimum income) All of these people have a right to remain in the UK
Home Office fees Increasing Home Office and court fees are a major obstacle to justice • Application fees have recently risen by up to 25% • Indefinite Leave to Remain now £1,875 • Asylum and immigration court fees set to rise by up to 500% on 10 th October • Fee for full tribunal hearing up from £140 to £800
Integration Exclusion is a major issue for refugees and migrants • Language barrier and lack of English classes • Unemployment • Qualifications from country of origin often not recognised • Difficulties of coping with trauma and loss • Family separation
Blessing’s story • Blessing presented to Praxis street homeless with a 2 week old baby • She had spent the weekend on night buses after being turned away from social services • Blessing is an overstayer . Baby’s father is British, which makes Baby British, but he doesn’t want anything to do with Blessing & child • Baby does not yet have a birth certificate • Blessing doesn’t have any immigration application at present
Serena’s story • Serena came to the UK from the Caribbean with her mother, as a child, in the 60’s. She didn’t have her own passport but was on her mother’s passport. Mother died some time ago. • Serena was married in the UK and had a daughter, who is now an adult and a British citizen. Serena divorced and has no ongoing contact with her ex-husband. • Serena had been living in a council flat and getting HB. She was in receipt of JSA but when she became ill, she was advised to switch to ESA. She applied but was asked to produce immigration documents which she could not do. • Serena’s benefits were stopped. She was evicted from her flat and moved in with her daughter.
Ahmed’s story • Ahmed had fled persecution, but his asylum claim was refused • Preparing a fresh claim, with new evidence • Not entitled to any housing support or benefits while preparing claim • He cannot work and is therefore destitute and homeless • When ready, he must travel to Liverpool to make claim in person
OUR VISION WHAT WE DO
What we do • Specialist casework and advice • Housing and destitution services • Support groups • Awareness raising
EXPERT ADVICE
Advice services • Free, independent and confidential advice helping thousands of people • Drop-in advice sessions for immigration matters, housing and welfare support • Telephone advice • Advice and training for other agencies
HOUSING AND DESTITUTION
We work in partnership Finding pathways out of destitution Key factors: • Accommodation • Immigration advice • Food and money
Housing services • Social investment partnership with Commonweal Housing • Street Legal project tackling rough sleeping • Temporary Homes
BUILDING RESILIENCE
Group work Finding a voice Improving wellbeing Reducing isolation
RAISING OUR VOICE
Raising our voice • Empowering migrants to have a voice and providing a platform • Supporting people to contribute to policy and service debates • Helping other service providers understand and respond to needs of migrant communities • Community groups and events
GET CONNECTED www.praxis.org.uk @Praxis_Projects Praxis Community Projects
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