We can help people overcome the barriers to finding a home

THE theme for this year’s National Refugee Week (June 17-23) is Our Home. This can have many meanings for different people. It is often said that “home is where the heart is”.

It is also a physical space, a building, where we live. Getting a home can be a challenge for many people. There is a shortage of affordable accommodation. Hefty deposits and/or rent in advance are usually required by landlords. Some are loathe to consider people on benefits.

This affects many people but is a particular challenge for asylum seekers whose claims are successful and are given leave to remain in this country. They have a relatively short time to move out of Home Office accommodation while sorting out employment or Universal Credit claims. Because they have not been allowed to work while awaiting the decision on their asylum claim – often for years – they have not been able to save for a deposit.

At last, the Home Office is dealing with the backlog of claims. Many more of the people known to the volunteers of local charity Cheltenham Welcomes Refugees are getting positive results and wanting to stay in Cheltenham, which they have found a friendly and welcoming place. But it is very hard to find accommodation and more people are needing to “sofa-surf” or even sleep rough.

But Cheltenham has shown itself to be a welcoming town and you can help. There is a long-established charity (Refugees at Home – refugeesathome. org) for people able to offer a guest a spare room for a short time. There is also a new scheme (Homes for Refugees) run by the county council and similar to the Homes for Ukraine scheme where hosts are paid £600 per month.

For more information, contact hfr@ gloucestershire.gov.uk. We are also in touch with Gloucestershire Nightstop (gloucestershirenightstop.org.uk) which offers emergency accommodation to 16to 25-year-olds (not just those who have sought asylum). Please think about it.