Hi there,
The following is an update on Positive Action in housing's work since March 2022.
A new system has been developed to assist Ukrainian refugees to leave the war and be resettled with a sponsor in the UK. The programme is running well, and we have recruited a Development Worker, to assist people to connect safely and with dignity. More than 200 matches have been created, and advice and information has been provided about safe routes, visas and sponsorship to more than 1,400 Ukrainian refugees inside Ukraine or in neighbouring countries. This has been both challenging and emotionally exhausting for our staff, trustees and volunteers.
As well as safely matching sponsors and refugees, we have linked up with expert volunteers and guided a small number of Ukrainians directly out of warzones to reach the border.
Around 19 unaccompanied young people under the age of 18 have registered with us. Their parents want them out of this war, schools and universities have been destroyed, they want normality. Although unaccompanied Ukrainian minors are accepted into Ireland, they are barred from entering the UK, leaving them at risk of returning to a war zone or trafficking in neighbouring countries. It is striking that families see anywhere outside the warzone as safe, compared to the immediate danger of bombardment. Cats and dogs belonging to Ukrainians can enter the UK, but unaccompanied minors cannot.
We do not advocate sponsorship by individuals, but charities like ours – with a record of over 20 years of safe hosting experience - should be permitted under the Homes for Ukraine programme to arrange safe registered sponsors for unaccompanied minors. This would keep children safe and ensure there is a minimum drain on public services.
We have also seen a notable increase in the number of Ukrainians presenting as homeless, particularly those arriving via the family scheme.
It is frustrating that brown and black war refugees, such as Syrians, Yemeni, Eritreans, Iraqis, Iranians and Afghans cannot seek sponsorship in the same way that those from Ukraine can - whatever the failings of that system. Meanwhile our Room for Refugees programme for destitute refugees and asylum seekers is going strong and continuing to assist people in need, accepting referrals from caseworkers like the British Red Cross, Freedom from Torture, Refugee Council and others. Two accommodation officers now provide support under this programme, and we expect capacity to double. Publicly, there is an almost blanket silence from hotel asylum seekers, most of whom refuse to come forward to highlight their experiences. Having spoken with many of those inside hotels across Scotland, it is clear that people are fearful of speaking out, or complaining about treatment by staff employed in the hotels or by the Home Office accommodation contractor, Mears. Asylum seekers fear being singled out and targeted by the Home Office and it's sub contractors.
One of the asylum seekers who is living in a hotel somewhere in Scotland described it as "a regime". He and others have tried to remain positive and to not think, for fear it leads to self harm, suicide attempts or plain outrage at the system they are being held under. His use of the word "regime" is interesting because many asylum seekers fled unjust regimes, and now find themselves inside another. Mohammad* said that he feels as if he "ran from one regime in my country, but Im living under another regime called Mears". "They know what I spend my £8 a week on, they are paid by the Home Office to accommodate us, they can walk into our rooms anytime. We cannot cook or clean for ourselves. They smile at us when they are engaging in inane talk about the weather or a staff member's birthday celebrations. But as soon as we ask real questions, about our asylum case, and when we will get an interview, the staff become cold. I guess its because we are asking about the truth of the matter. And they dont want to talk about that. Or about how much money they get for keeping us here. I listen to the small talk about their happy lives and smile, but inside my heart was breaking. "So we stay quiet, because we know everything gets reported back to the Home Office. If we complain, we are accused of "causing trouble" or "being violent". Just for asking a question that is on the minds of every single asylum seeker here: "When will my case be heard?". I tried helping by assisting with interpreting for the other asylum seekers. I thought they could see I was human. And I thought I could help the others in here. But after many months, when i asked the question that was on my mind, when will my case be heard, I was treated with coldness as if i had committed a crime. So I retreat inside myself. Keep busy. Whatever you do, don't think." It's a testament to their strength of character, and their resolve to endure this long delay, that they have stayed so calm. Mears claims it is doing everything in its power to eliminate hotel usage, but in reality we are seeing the use of hotels on an industrial scale. Hundreds of millions is being spent on hotel use, when that money could be used to build homes. Priti Patel's threat to send asylum seekers to Rwanda is the biggest fear now. At worst, people could be sent there on a whim. At best, they could be moved onto another hotel, with no notice, and then have to start the search all over again, for a lawyer, for support. Hotels are a transient thing, they are different from a home, you can't settle, you can't study, you can't register with a GP; there is no agency or privacy. The system can check what you buy with £8 a week. The system is connected to the home Office which ultimately decides whether you can stay or go. Robina Qureshi | 
