Home Office breaking law by leaving destitute asylum seekers homeless (The Independent) (24 July 2020)

Under asylum law, the Home Office is required to grant housing and support to asylum seekers who are waiting on their claims, or whose claims have been refused but who aren’t able to leave the UK. A number of recent court orders reveal that the government has been told it must house destitute individuals whom it has a legal duty to support. Ahmed Aydeed speaks to The Independent about such cases that he and his team have been involved in. “The home secretary, in all these cases, accepts clients are destitute and need urgent support, yet does nothing for months. Charities are having to fill the gap, and we’re receiving urgent referrals where that is simply no longer possible.” He says, adding; “Our clients were lucky that they received this additional support from these wonderful charities, but I’m extremely concerned for those who do not receive this support and do not have legal representation. We’ve had cases where there hasn’t been a charity to fill the gap, and we’ve had to issue proceedings on the weekend to ensure clients aren’t left destitute. Who knows what’s happening to people who do not have legal representation.”