Asylum Matters has come together with more than 100 local and national organisations operating around the UK to support people in the asylum system to draw attention to the failings in the new Home Office contract for asylum support.
The new service, delivered by Migrant Help, is intended to provide advice and guidance to service users on the asylum process. However, it has resulted in drastically increased waiting times for asylum support applicants, leaving many destitute and forced to rely on local charities to meet their basic living needs. Others have been unable to resolve critical issues relating to unsafe and degrading accommodation, leaving them in homes without electricity or hot water.
Organisations dealing with the fallout from this poor service have written to the Minister for Safeguarding and Vulnerability, Victoria Atkins MP, calling for urgent action. They have stressed that the Home Office has ultimate responsibility for the management and oversight of this contract. The delivery of asylum support and accommodation is a public service delivered through public funds. The dignity and wellbeing of people in the asylum system should be at the centre of this public service but currently, too many people are failed by that system.
Asylum Matters will be working with our partners over the coming months to document the failings of the current contracts and to work towards improvements. If you are interested in taking part in this work, please get in touch with one of our team.
You can view the letter which was sent to the Minister here.
