Inside Housing reported in August that homelessness among refugee households has more than tripled in the last year, with almost 5000 households with newly granted refugees experiencing homelessness between January and March this year, 348.1% more than over the same period last year.

Housing Justice are founder members of the London Charter to End Rough Sleeping and work with refugees to try and avoid or end their need to sleep rough.  Here are some case studies from their work.

Roya - A New Beginning in London

Roya arrived in the UK in 2021 to seek asylum from the crises and conflict in her home country, Afghanistan. Roya studied a Master's degree in Business Management while her asylum application was being assessed.

Roya’s asylum application was eventually approved, meaning she was granted refugee status and could now work. Newly granted refugees are evicted from their asylum accommodation 28 days after gaining refugee status and so Roya was at risk of rough sleeping.

Enter Maggie, a compassionate and well-travelled homeowner with a heart for helping others. Maggie opened her home to Roya in June through Housing Justice’s Refugee Lodgings project.

Roya has since started full-time work supporting Afghans with ESOL courses and interpretation services. Roya has been described as an "invaluable asset" to the company, a testament to her hard work and the stability she has found through her placement with Maggie.

Abbass – From Rough Sleeping to Stability

Abbass was sleeping rough in a park in Southwark for over a month when he was referred to Housing Justice for help.

David, a homeowner in South London with a spare room, stepped in to provide Abbass with a safe place to stay.  Abbass made the most of every opportunity offered by the project. He attended meet-up sessions and, completed a construction skills.  

In July, Abbass moved on to supported accommodation sharing with five others. He is actively seeking part-time work, continuing his journey towards independence.

Mohammed – Creating a Home Away from Home

Joanna is a single mum living with her 10-year-old son, Michael. When her daughter left for university, Joanna found herself with a spare room and a desire to make a positive impact. She joined the Refugee Lodgings project, eager to use her available space to support someone in need.

In May, Joanna welcomed Mohammed, a refugee from Sudan. The placement has been a success, with Joanna and Mohammed building a strong, communicative relationship

For Joanna, the project offered more than just a way to earn extra income; it was an opportunity to actively support a refugee in rebuilding their life.  Hosting Mohammed has not only been a fulfilling experience for Joanna but also a chance to teach her son about compassion and the value of community.

For more information about this project go to Refugee Lodgings – Housing Justice  To read more about the London Councils research go to Hundreds of refugees sleeping rough in London amid ‘dramatic spike’ in homelessness | London Councils - Localgov Drupal