Dear Supporter,
URGENT APPEAL FROM POSITIVE ACTION IN HOUSING
We urgently need spare rooms and/or donations for the following individuals
who have been made absolutely destitute and have no recourse to public
funds.
SULEMAN, 57, FROM SOMALIA
Suleman has been an asylum seeker in Scotland for over 2 years. He has fled persecution in Somalia where law and order has broken down. He is unable to access "Section 4" hardship accommodation unless he agrees to return to Somalia. Suleman has stated he would rather sleep on the streets than risk his life by returning. His benefits from the National Asylum Support Service were stopped in 2003. He was evicted from council accommodation and subsequently became destitute on April 27th 2005. He has been sleeping on the streets since then and has spent 2 nights sleeping on the floor in a fellow refugee's home.
Suleman's Glasgow-based solicitor is in the process of preparing a new appeal to the Home Office. In the meantime he is forbidden recourse to public funds, ie. hostels, homeless units, benefits, etc. He is elderly, speaks little English and has kidney problems and high blood pressure. He needs a space or a spare room to sleep for up to 4 weeks until his asylum claim is reinstated and benefits restored.
RASHID, 31, FROM KURDISTAN
Rashid's asylum claim has come to an end. He has agreed to return
voluntarily. He has therefore applied for "Section 4" support. This
support consists of hostel accommodation and food vouchers until a safe route back can be found. However, the approval for this support will take approximately one week to come through. Until then Rashid remains destitute and he needs a space or spare room to sleep for around a week.
ASHRAF, 46, FROM PAKISTAN
Ashraf's asylum claim has come to an end and he has also applied for "Section 4" support. Again, this will take approximately one week to be granted and in the interim period Ashraf remains destitute and is not entitled to any support whatsoever. He needs a space or spare room to sleep for around a week.
PATRICK, 21, FROM RWANDA
Patrick has applied for "Section 4" support but, while he waits for
approval, is destitute. At 21 he is particularly vulnerable. He needs a
space or a spare room to sleep for around a week.
Do you have a spare room or space?
If you think you or someone you know has a spare room here in Glasgow and are willing to accommodate any of our clients for this interim period then please contact Clare on 0141 353 2220 or <mailto:clare@paih.org> clare@paih.org urgently.
Give a Donation
The Hardship Fund supports people in this position by giving small amounts
of cash for food and basic essentials. We desperately need donations as this
work is not funded by any other means.
You can make an
<http://www.securegiving.co.uk/acatalog/Donate_To_Positive_Action_in_Housing
_10.html> online donation by clicking here.
Or send a cheque, made payable to Positive Action in Housing, and post to:
Destitution Appeal
Positive Action in Housing
98 West George Street
Glasgow G2 1PJ
Thank you for your support.
Robina Qureshi
Director
ABOUT US
Positive Action in Housing is a not-for-profit, advocacy, campaigns and training charity based in Scotland. We work in partnership with communities and organisations to enable everyone to have an equal chance to live in good quality, affordable and safe homes, free from discrimination and the fear of racial harassment and violence. Our day-to-day work includes a Scottish wide casework service for minority ethnic and refugee communities those facing homelessness, destitution, harassment and poverty; a volunteering programme, supporting antiracist campaigns, informing wider policies from our perspective, providing training and best practice guidance for tenants, advice workers, housing providers and others.
CONTACT INFO
Positive Action in Housing, 98 West George Street Glasgow G2 1PJ Tel: 0141
353 2220 Fax: 0141 353 3882 Email: <mailto:home@paih.org> home@paih.org
Website: <http://www.paih.org/> www.paih.org