Sleep Out

Press/ statement of support from Joy Bowman, member of Tyneside Community Action for Refugees (TCAR)-

“There are a lot of failed asylum seekers who are forced to sleep on the streets, it’s a very distressing situation. If asylum seekers had the opportunity to work they wouldn’t be on benefits and they wouldn’t be forced into destitution. Sometimes, women asylum seekers who are made destitute are approached by men who offer them a place to stay and then force them into prostitution or unwanted sexual activity. Because of that many women are affected by AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases. These people have to put up with all kinds of abuse and if these women don’t agree to what the men ask them to do, they are turned out onto the streets. I have spoken to many asylum seekers, men women and children, it’s very appalling to hear and see the situation they are in. The only thing many asylum seekers want is the ability to work, but how can they work without National Insurance numbers? If they do work they have to work illegally and can be sentenced to prison. There is a lot of bad press about asylum seekers working illegally, getting involved in drugs, stealing and prostitution, but this is not because these destitute asylum seekers want to do these things, they have to do them to stay alive because they are destitute. I’m asking the Home Office and the Government to look at this situation, see the problems these people have, give asylum seekers the right to work and try to help people in this situation. If they did this, their work would be more successful.”