“To be honest, I have a community of people from my country but everyone was in the same situation. Everybody has enough to do, to find work, to find accommodation, so I couldn’t get any help off them. So that’s why I found my way and looked into the charities, to other ways to find accommodation to live.”
That’s where Housing Justice’s refugee lodgings programme stepped in.
The charity teamed up with the Greater London Authority to come up with a solution and settled on a refugee lodgings programme beginning in March 2024.
That involves pairing a refugee facing homelessness with a residential landlord who is willing to offer up their spare room for a six-month placement.
The idea is that the placement gives breathing room to work on longer-term housing solutions as well as employment and training, language or swimming classes or whatever it is that the lodger is looking to do with their lives.
For their part, the resident landlord receives a tax-free income up to £7,500 per year with rent paid through housing benefit as well as a contribution to bills.
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So far, 17 people have taken part in the programme, Housing Justice’s project co-ordinator Joe Rinvolucri told the Big Issue. Four people have moved on to long-term housing after their placement. A further 13 people are currently staying with a landlord.
Rinvolucri explained that refugees evicted from Home Office accommodation faced a combination of under-pressure council homelessness teams and a pricey private rental sector when finding somewhere to live.
And that was just the start of the barriers they have faced.
“When you also take into account the extra barriers that refugees encounter, a lack of employment history because you are not allowed to work as an asylum seeker, a lack of renting history in the UK, potentially no guarantor, language barriers, it is something that is very difficult to navigate,” said Rivolucri.
“That’s where I think the project is particularly helpful. We are very much of the mindset that we want to equip the people on the project with the knowledge and the skills to utilise and navigate these markets. We are not just doing something for someone and leaving them powerless in the future.”
Ibrahim has been living with Anna, who has already hosted another refugee as part of the programme.
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She said: “One surprise for me has been how helpful my lodgers have been in helping around the house and garden! If you have a spare room, I would highly recommend supporting Housing Justice in this way.”
Rinvolucri said the pair’s partnership has shown the programme at its best.
“Anna and Ibrahim are from completely different paths of life. Maybe ordinarily they wouldn’t have much chance to meet each other or talk to each other. Just seeing what a lovely, supportive relationship they have, which works both ways,” he said.
“Ibrahim has been sharing his cooking and culture with her, which she has found enriching as well. It’s really nice when you see those moments of people coming together, sharing those cultures.”
Anna has also been helping Ibrahim to take steps to move into work.
While Ibrahim worked in construction back in Syria, he told the Big Issue that he would need fresh qualifications to take up the work in the UK.
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In the meantime he is trying to start work as a handyperson and decorator with Anna’s help.
“It’s my big thing to open a construction and decorating business and afford a house. Normal things,” said Ibrahim.
“I’ve changed my way to do some decorating, carpentry work on doors, kitchens, small things on the maintenance side. I’m trying to open a company and get clients. That’s what I’m looking for now.”
It’s a far cry from the low point when he spent three months in a London night shelter, despite a centre’s 28-day limit on stays, and was considering rough sleeping once more.
“I gave up before I found Housing Justice,” said Ibrahim.
“I spent three months in the night shelter and at that time they brought me good food and too many things. I was trying not to take anything off them because they let me stay to sleep. I was thinking about going back to the street to be honest with you because there was no solution.”
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The deputy mayor of London, Tom Copley, recently visited the project and met Ibrahim and Anna. Copley said the programme is playing a part in mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s bid to end rough sleeping in the English capital by 2030.
“Everyone deserves a safe place to call home, so we are proud to be supporting Housing Justice with their innovative refugee lodgings programme, which is helping to combat rough sleeping and homelessness in the capital by providing vital accommodation and support for newly recognised refugees,” said Copley.
If you wish to become a resident landlord support Housing Justice, find out more here.
Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. Big Issue exists to give homeless and marginalised people the opportunity to earn an income. To support our work buy a copy of the magazine or get the app from the App Store or Google Play.
