A REFUGEE living in Glasgow has said they “do not feel safe” in their current accommodation after the city formally declared a housing emergency last month.
The city council committee agreed the move due to the “unprecedented pressures” facing the local authority which has thousands of open homelessness cases.
The National has spoken with a refugee, known as Liz as they wished to remain anonymous, about the difficulties they are facing in their current accommodation.
She was granted Humanitarian Protection Status at the beginning of this year and currently lives with her nine-year-old son having first moved to Glasgow in 2021.
However, the family has faced ongoing issues with accommodation since then.
“It’s very hard to find accommodation in Glasgow. We are in accommodation close to a graveyard and we are so scared and uncomfortable. We do not feel safe there,” Liz said.
“Every night I lie awake worrying that the roof is going to fall in. It feels like it will collapse at any moment.
“I have been so scared, so worried. It is not suitable for us. We’ve been there for nearly 10 months but we will be moving soon.”
Liz thanked the Scottish Refugee Council (SRC) for its efforts in helping her to move due to the difficult conditions she is facing.
She said: “When we came to Glasgow I was not familiar with the area or with the system. The SRC found me an advocacy worker early on.
“Anytime I’ve had an issue since them, I’ve been asked and they’ve been able to help. I really don’t know what to say or how to thank them for what they did.
“The SRC took me out of an awful situation. Their help made me feel respected and safe and they were so supportive and kind.
“They treated me like a human being. Thanks to SRC, my son was able to go to his first football game. He was so happy he got his dream.”
The SRC has already launched a winter appeal to support refugees in urgent need by asking Scots to show their support where possible.
The news comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was able to dodge a humiliating defeat in the Commons as MPs approved the latest bid to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda.
The legislation passed with a majority of just 44 votes – with a number of high-profile Tory MPs, including former home secretary Suella Braverman (above), abstaining.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Asylum is reserved to the UK Parliament and handled by the Home Office, this includes provision of asylum accommodation. The Scottish Government has no control of asylum accommodation provision.
“Scottish Ministers regularly raise concerns with the UK Government about issues in the asylum system which are impacting people living in Scotland. We also work closely with COSLA and the Scottish Refugee Council as our partners in the New Scots refugee integration strategy.”
