Plans for eviction and enforced homelessness of asylum seekers

On Saturday 21st April, I joined the rally and protest at the UKBA offices on Brand Street, near Cessnock Subway Station in support of the efforts to stop proposed evictions and bring an end to destitution of asylum seekers.

There are up to 140 Glasgow asylum seekers to be evicted by their landlord, Ypeople, in the next few weeks, and left without home, and without access to work or any benefits or state support whatsoever. These people have had their claim for asylum refused even though most are unable to return to their countries because they are too dangerous. They include Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Somalia, Zimbabwe and others.

Ypeople is a charity funded to provide accommodation to vulnerable people and it is claiming they have to do this before handing over the housing of asylum seekers to Serco, a multinational making money for its shareholders out of running prisons and detention centres. The hand over period runs to November yet Ypeople have decided to evict everyone right now. Community groups say they will not be able to cope.

 At Brand Street with activists from the Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees

I support the call on Ypeople to act with humanity towards these extremely vulnerable people and on Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government to step in and stop the distress and suffering that would be caused by the proposed evictions.