Many asylum seekers placed in North Somerset are now receiving positive decisions on their asylum claims from the Home Office. While for many, this is a very welcome relief following a long wait, they are then faced with a near impossible challenge - they are given an incredibly short time to find somewhere to live, and set up their new lives in the UK.
After 28 days (although for many, this has been reduced to just 7), they have to leave their initial Home Office accommodation. Imagine being given 7 days to find a job and a place to live in a country where you are new to the system and the language? The situation is desperate, and for many leaves them with nowhere to go, forcing them onto the streets.
Refugees Welcome North Somerset have been working alongside these individuals, helping them secure accommodation, through the council and private rented options, as well as through organisations such as Refugees at Home. We have also been lobbying the official channels for a more fair and humane system.
However, there are still those who are vulnerable to being made street homeless. For these individuals, we want to be able to pay for a safe place to sleep, just for a night or two - in a hostel or B'n'B - while we support them to secure longer term accommodation. Just £30 could pay for a room in a guest house in Weston-Super-Mare for a night, ensuring they don't have to spend a night on the streets.
Please give as generously as you can to help ensure no refugees in North Somerset end up street homeless.