Home is Where the Start Is

After experiencing unimaginable horrors and enduring long journeys, refugees arriving in the UK are given only 28 days before all asylum support – including accommodation – are withdrawn. Already traumatised, they have to navigate a complex and unfamiliar system in a foreign language. A lucky few might have friends or relatives to help and support them, but the majority end up destitute and homeless. 1 in 4 people accessing night shelters in London are refugees.

“Everyone deserves the right to a safe place to live, and especially those escaping such horrific conditions in their own countries,” said Jeannie Pitt, B&Q Foundation Manager. “We were pleased to support the Refugee Council, to help those people that want to call the UK home.”

The Refugee Council has been in operation since 1951 and helped 14,000 men, women and children last year alone to rebuild their lives here. The Council has set up the Refugee Advice Project in London specifically to get those in need into homes as quickly as possible. 86% of the refugees they work with are homeless or at risk of homelessness to begin with. The team supports them in accessing temporary options such as night shelters or hostels, whilst working with them to apply for longer-term solutions with the local authority or referring them to private rented schemes.

New Places

“Finding a home is the start of a new life for many people,” said Chloë Morgan, Integration Projects Manager. “It’s such an important milestone and represents security and a sense of belonging in the UK. It’s also a new beginning for finding a job, making local friends and learning new skills.”

The £50,000 grant from the B&Q Foundation will enable the Refugee Advice Project to support 150 refugees over the year. Although the immediate need is for housing, the project also helps new refugees with everyday challenges – opening bank accounts, registering for benefits or with a GP – which give a sense of local belonging.

“By supporting people with a new home and securing a stable source of income, we can give refugees a safe space to recover and focus on integrating into their new community,” said Chloe.

A refugee couple supported by the Refugee Advice Project said, “When we got our asylum claims accepted, we felt so happy. Now we had the status we wanted to learn and we wanted to work. And then we found out we only had 28 days to find somewhere to live. We felt confused at that time. We didn’t know where to go. Refugee Council helped us into a shelter and we slept there for three weeks while they tried to find us accommodation. And then they found us a home!”