Joint statement – new Immigration Rules on rough sleeping
Joint statement – new Immigration Rules on rough sleeping
Changes to the Immigration Rules, published on 22 October 2020, made rough sleeping grounds for refusing or cancelling a person’s permission to remain in the UK. Last week, the UK Government published guidance confirming how these rules will now be applied.
The guidance does nothing to put our fears to rest.
We are gravely concerned about the impact of these changes. Everyone in our society should have a safe place to live and no one should be punished for experiencing homelessness.
This policy undermines this principle. It is inhumane and will make non-UK nationals in vulnerable circumstances fearful of asking for the support they need to get off the streets. It puts people at risk of exploitative work, accommodation, and potentially modern slavery, to avoid sleeping rough and putting themselves at threat of removal from the country.
We fear that victims of modern slavery in particular, (many of whom are recruited from, or end up on the streets), will fear that they will not be viewed as victims of crime, but instead as criminals. This will be used to deter anyone seeking help to break free of this crime.
We urge the UK Government to scrap these damaging new rules immediately to ensure everyone can access homelessness support without fear. We urge authorities to retain their focus on supporting people out of homelessness.
Governments across England, Scotland and Wales have shown they can take bold action to tackle homelessness. Building on this progress, we urgently need to see a clear, national strategy from the UK Government to end rough sleeping and homelessness for all.
Jon Sparkes, Chief Executive, Crisis
Polly Neate CBE, Chief Executive, Shelter
Steve Douglas CBE, Chief Executive, St. Mungo’s
Rick Henderson, CEO, Homeless Link
Mick Clarke, CEO, The Passage
Sally Daghlian, CEO, Praxis
Gavin Smart, CEO, Chartered Institute of Housing
Lucy Abraham, CEO, Glass Door Homeless Charity
Barbara Drozdowicz, CEO, East European Resource Centre
Mike Thiedke, CEO, Depaul UK
Sylvia Ingmire, CEO, Roma Support Group
David Ford, Founder and Chief Executive, Expert Link
Tim Sigsworth, Chief Executive, Albert Kennedy Trust
James Tullett, Chief Executive, Refugee and Migrant Forum of Essex and London
Andrea Cleaver, Chief Executive, Welsh Refugee Council
Ewan Aitkens, CEO, Cyrenians
Charles Maasz, CEO, Glasgow City Mission
Annika Joy, Chief Executive, Destitute Asylum Seekers
Maggie Brunjes, CEO, Homeless Network Scotland
Lorraine McGrath, CEO, Simon Community Scotland
Alison Reid, CEO, Clan Childlaw
Duncan Cuthill, CEO, Edinburgh City Mission
Aaliyah Seyal, CEO, Legal Services Agency
Mark Goldring, Director, Asylum Welcome
Julian Prior, Chief Executive, Action Foundation
Jessica Hodge, CEO, Emmaus Bristol
Amanda Dubarry, Chief Executive, Caritas Anchor House
Amanda Croome, CEO, Booth Centre
Liz Rutherfoord, CEO, Single Homeless Project
Yvonne Hope, CEO, Barnabus Manchester
Dr Jan Sheldon, Chief Executive, St Martins
Jasmine O’Connor OBE, CEO, Anti-Slavery International
Pam Orchard, Chief Executive, The Connection at St Martin’s
Jackie Bliss, Chief Executive, HARP Southend
Carly Jones, Chief Executive, Sifa Fireside
Mike Barrett, Chief Executive, Porchlight
Dr. Dora-Olivia Vicol, CEO, Work Rights Centre
Kathy Mohan OBE, CEO, Housing Justice
Mark Grant, Chief Executive, Action Homeless
Simon Grainge, Chief Executive, Emmaus UK
Jane Cranston, Chair, Oxfordshire Homeless Movement
Jane Henson, Chair, Host Nottingham
Freek Spinnewijn, Director, FEANTSA
Ruth Moore, Director, St Wilfrid’s Centre
Fergal McCullough, Director, Manchester Men’s Room
Heather Petch, Interim Director, NACCOM
Karen Pearse, Director, Positive Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Alicja Zalesinska, Director, Tai Pawb
Katie Dalton, Director, Cymorth Cymru
Helen Hodgson, Operations Director, Hope at Home
Debbie Royle, Deputy Director, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum
Sam Grant, Head of Policy and Campaigns, Liberty
Nimrod Ben-Cnaan, Head of Policy and Profile, Law Centres Network
Eileen McMullan, Policy Lead, Scottish Federation of Housing Association
Sushila Dhall, Capacity Development Lead, Refugee Resource
Salma Ravat, Manager, One Roof Leicester
Maeve Larkin, Manager, Destitute Asylum Seekers Huddersfield
Jessica Brannan, Manager, Broxtowe Youth Homelessness
Laura McIvor, Project Support Coordinator, St Petrock’s (Exeter)
Jon Glackin, Coordinator, Streets Kitchen
Rachel Hall, Deputy CEO, Falcon Support Services
Hendrix Lancaster, CEO, Coffee4Craig