ASYLUM seeker and refugee charities and legal services will receive £252,000 in funding from the Scottish Government to tackle evictions, it has been announced.
The funding will target charities and advocacy services which help asylum seekers with housing and legal advice and support.
The Scottish Government estimates nearly 150 people facing “imminent” homelessness will benefit from the cash injection.
Asylum seekers faced evictions earlier this year after Serco, which housed people seeking asylum until its Home Office contract expired in September, announced it would resume its lock-change eviction policy.
The policy, which saw Serco change the locks on the homes of failed asylum seekers to evict them, was ruled lawful by the Court of Session following an appeal by campaigners.
Last year it was revealed the Home Office lost 75% of its appeals on immigration rulings, for the year 2017-18.
The funding will primarily serve the estimated 150 people still housed by Serco and under threat of eviction in Glasgow. The company lost its contract for Scotland earlier this year.
Mears Group now holds the contracts for asylum accommodation in Scotland, after Serco was met with protests and resistance to its lock-change evictions by activists in Glasgow.
The Government’s new support package will fund legal advocacy services for those facing eviction from their housing providers.
The majority of the funds – £202,000 – will go to legal advice and advocacy organisations, including refugee charities and the British Red Cross.
Simon Community, a charity which provides support and advice for those facing or experiencing homelessness, will receive £10,000 for crisis support services.
Street outreach programmes such as Glasgow City Mission and Glasgow Night Shelter will get £40,000 to fund more trained staff. Serco provides temporary accommodation to nearly 150 people, while they await the result of their asylum claim.
Aileen Campbell, Communities Secretary, said: “This funding will ensure advocacy and legal support are available for those who desperately need it and ensure people’s dignity and rights are respected.
“Previous UK Governments have failed to fix their failed asylum process. This cannot continue. It is now the time for them to finally find a long-term, sustainable and humane alternative to the asylum process.
“I will be writing to UK Ministers to remind them of their role to not make anyone who has sought safety in this country homeless and destitute.”
Wafa Shaheen, Head of Services at Scottish Refugee Council, said: “This funding means we’ll be able to carry on supporting people who are experiencing real hardship. We’ll make sure people at risk of eviction know their rights and we’ll make sure people receive the support they are entitled to.
“We’ll continue to work with others in the charity and legal sectors to support individual men and women and to challenge the shameful practice of evicting people by locking them out of their homes.”
Serco refused to comment.
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