WHAT WE DO
RADAR provides temporary accommodation and support for destitute asylum seekers, that is asylum seekers who are homeless and without any resources.
Asylum seekers come to this country to seek safety from war, persecution and oppression in their home countries. When they arrive in the UK they are dispersed to various areas of the country where they are housed by the Home Office whilst their claims for asylum are assessed. They are not allowed to work, but the Home Office gives them a small living allowance. The Home Office sub contracts the housing provision to a private contractor, Serco plc in the North West. Rochdale Borough has one of the highest per capita proportions of asylum seekers in the UK.
If asylum seekers are given leave to remain, they become refugees and are allowed to work, they must leave their Home Office accommodation and can apply to the local authority for accommodation. Unfortunately, in many cases asylum seeker’s claims are not accepted and they must appeal or seek additional evidence to produce a fresh claim. In many cases they are evicted from their Home Office accommodation and their living allowance is withdrawn, they have No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) and become destitute. They end up sofa surfing or street homeless. This is where RADAR can help.
We have a property near the centre of Rochdale where we can house up to three destitute asylum seekers. Currently we are housing three men who were previously homeless. The property belongs to a local church and was empty for several years and needed some renovation before we were able to use it.
As well as accommodation, RADAR provides its guests with a small weekly cash allowance as well as friendship, advice and general support and encourages them to get involved with the local community.
Also, over the past three years RADAR has provided financial support for two destitute asylum seekers who are being housed by others and a couple of our members have hosted both destitute asylum seekers and refugees in their own home.
Sleeping on the street, or on someone else’s floor is not good for a person’s physical or mental health. By providing destitute asylum seekers with a safe, warm place to stay and holistic support, RADAR gives them a period of stability to help them recover and put together an appeal or fresh claim without the stress of homelessness.
Refugees sometimes become homeless in the intervening period between having to leave their Home Office accommodation and getting suitable Local Authority housing. Depending on availability, RADAR may make its accommodation available to them too.
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
| Our guests, Rasti and Zena, in the property at Christmas |
|
The RADAR Chair cleaning furniture | |
Khalid, one of the people we support, volunteering on an environmental project |
 |
|
 |
|
| Open day at the property | |
Russel, one of the people we supported during the covid pandemic, wrote a book during lockdown. He was later given permission to settle in the USA |
We are grateful to Action Together for their support
Action Together logo used with permission