Anwar

Before accessing accommodation through the Boaz Trust, Anwar* was facing homelessness following a negative decision on his asylum claim. Moving into a Boaz house meant safety and stability at a time in his life when things felt like they were spiralling out of control.

Although our usual housing provision is for 12 months, because of Anwar’s specific circumstances, we decided to extend his accommodation with us. This was partly due to Anwar’s ongoing mental and physical health conditions. But he was also in the process of working on a fresh asylum claim, and we felt that he would benefit from our holistic, person-centred support during this process.

During his time with Boaz, Anwar often volunteered with activities such as decorating in the house and gardening. He told us that he enjoyed having something physical to do as it broke up the monotony of the day and helped him focus his thoughts on things other than his case. 

Living in shared accommodation also gave him the chance to build friendships with others. Whenever someone new was moving in, Anwar would be the first to welcome them and help them to settle in. On several occasions, he supported people who were particularly struggling. Even though he was in a difficult situation himself, he still gave his time to help others facing similar challenges. 

When circumstances changed dramatically in his home country, Anwar’s solicitor at GMIAU (Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit) supported him to submit a fresh claim to show that return would be dangerous, if not impossible. 

Due to the painful experiences discussed, some of the meetings with his solicitor were intense. In this context, details and advice could easily get confused or be forgotten. The fact that Anwar’s support worker from Boaz attended these meetings with him meant that he was able to implement the advice he was given by his solicitor. This included things like visiting embassies in London and collecting health records.

A few months later, Anwar moved out of Boaz housing when he became eligible for Home Office accommodation and support after his fresh claim was submitted. After moving on from Boaz, Anwar described the impact of support from Boaz in some of his hardest times: “You know I have no words, I cannot say how much is in my heart for all Boaz's help, for your help, for every help. Thank you.”

Although Anwar is still waiting for a decision on his asylum claim, housing and support from Boaz allowed him time to gain clarity and understanding of his case, providing the stability he needed to work on his claim.

While we have a clearly defined model of support at Boaz, there is also scope for flexibility when an individual’s needs call for it. Anwar’s journey with us shows the impact that this tailored, trauma-informed approach can have.

*Name changed

This is based on a case study gathered by Anwar's support worker and is shared anonymously, with all identifying information removed, with Anwar's permission.