A long-standing issue is the provision of accommodation and support for people leaving detention. The majority of people who are detained are released to the community in the UK, but often without adequate accommodation, support or continuity of healthcare. Getting released from detention is a key turning point at which vulnerable people can immediately become street-homeless or find themselves in precarious accommodation, leaving them at risk of exploitation and re-trafficking. Added to this is a frequent issue of not having access to needed healthcare and medication.
Many of our clients languished in detention for extended periods after their release had been agreed or bail granted because of delays in provision of accommodation, and some were released to homelessness or to precarious situations which led to homelessness shortly afterwards. We saw clients, including very unwell clients, released without any steps being taken to ensure continuity of healthcare and access to medication.
Our casework team work to support clients post-detention, by making applications for accommodation, requesting Care Act referrals when needed, supporting clients in challenging accommodation that was inadequate or inappropriate due to their medical needs or vulnerabilities and taking urgent steps where clients are in a situation of street homelessness. We also support clients in accessing healthcare and ongoing treatment and medication post-release, as well as making referrals to community groups so that our clients can access local support and engagement.
This is becoming an increasing demand on our casework as, more and more, we see issues with the provision of accommodation and support, which leaves people homeless and in vulnerable situations, at greater risk of exploitation and sometimes struggling to access the medical treatment they need.
With the government’s planned 40% increase in immigration detention together with a harshening of the ‘hostile environment’ for migrants, the problem of homelessness and precarious accommodation on release from detention are set to grow significantly.”
