Asylum seekers left ‘destitute’
Flawed regulations are leaving asylum seekers destitute and homelessness, according to a new report funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Leeds, found that successful applicants can still be left homeless, and those refused asylum, but not removed from the country, are often destitute.
Though the study is based on asylum seekers dispersed to Leeds, the researchers believe that its results are a good case study for the country as a whole. Yorkshire and Humberside receives 20 per cent of National Asylum Support Service (NASS) accommodated asylum seekers.
Dr Peter Dwyer, who led the research, said: “The system simply isn’t working.
“Successful asylum seekers often end up homeless because they are given only a short time to move from National Asylum Support (NASS) accommodation into mainstream social housing, which is in short supply.”
He added: “What’s more, those who are denied asylum but are not sent home have no rights to welfare at all they simply disappear and the extent of destitution is hidden because of the clandestine nature of the problem. Individuals denied access to public support are increasingly having to rely on other migrants or charities.”
The report calls for an end to the use of Section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act (2002), which enables the Home Office to withdraw support from those who do not apply for asylum “as soon as reasonably practicable.”
In addition, the researchers argue that asylum seekers should be entitled to 100 per cent of income support (currently they are only entitled to 70 per cent) and that failed asylum seekers who are not deported should either be allowed to work, or to receive benefits.
