Two out of every three asylum seekers, who flee persecution in their home countries due to civil war or for political or ethnic reasons, are refused sanctuary in the UK by the Home Office. Many asylum seekers simply find it impossible to prove their stories. The Independent Asylum Commision found that their was a ‘culture of disbelief’ in the Home Office. Furthermore, cuts in legal aid have led to many solicitors giving up immigration work meaning that some asylum seekers are unrepresented at their hearings and many struggle to make appeals.

Once refused, they are told to go home. But they are not immediately deported. Instead they are left destitute with no means of support and no right to work.

Some cannot get the necessary travel documents as their home countries refuse to have them back. Many more fear persecution, torture, or even death if they return to the countries they fled from.

The Independent Asylum Commission estimates that there are 284,500 refused asylum seekers nationwide. Manchester was one of the top three dispersal towns for asylum seekers entering the country in 2007, and many remain once their asylum claims are turned down. Indeed, several thousand refused asylum seekers are known to live in the city.

Some will be able to stay with friends, often sofa-surfing between those who will take pity on them. Others have nowhere to go and have no choice but to sleep rough on the streets. With no national insurance number they cannot even access government funded homeless hostels. These people become like “living ghosts”, hidden from society with no means of survival. Physical and mental illness are common, particularly for those with a history of torture and abuse.

You can view a video about destitution produced by Refugee Action by following this link.