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homelessness
Jan 24, 2011
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The short answer is that the rights of East European migrants (also refered to as A8 nationals) will be brought in line with the rights of other EU nationals and the broadly criticised Worker Registration Scheme will be discontinued. The AIRE Centre (Advice on Individual Rights in Europe) and MRN have prepared a briefing detailing the changes from 1 May 2011.
An often overlooked change afecting East European (A8) migrants is now only a few months away. Since 2004 when the A8 countries have joined the EU (Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia) the UK was allowed to apply transition arrangements regulating A8 nationals’ right to access the labour market for up to seven years. On 1 May 2011 the UK will no longer be allowed to treat A8 nationals any differently from nonaccession (e.g. French) nationals. In effect, A8 nationals will be able to access benefits on the same basis as other EU nationals.
An often overlooked change afecting East European (A8) migrants is now only a few months away. Since 2004 when the A8 countries have joined the EU (Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia) the UK was allowed to apply transition arrangements regulating A8 nationals’ right to access the labour market for up to seven years. On 1 May 2011 the UK will no longer be allowed to treat A8 nationals any differently from nonaccession (e.g. French) nationals. In effect, A8 nationals will be able to access benefits on the same basis as other EU nationals.
Dec 22, 2010
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Homeless charities in London have been funded by the government to promote a return home to migrants facing hardship and exploitation in the capital. But where is the remotely comparable project which works to secure their rights and entitlements whilst they are in the UK?
The London segment of the BBC1 News (scroll to 10:42 for the item) last night featured an item about a controversial scheme financed by the government and run by local charities which is supposed to to tackle the plight of homelessness European migrants in the capital. The selling point of the scheme is that it helps hundreds to leave the UK with a free ticket and a small sum of money to tide them over the first few weeks of their return.
The London segment of the BBC1 News (scroll to 10:42 for the item) last night featured an item about a controversial scheme financed by the government and run by local charities which is supposed to to tackle the plight of homelessness European migrants in the capital. The selling point of the scheme is that it helps hundreds to leave the UK with a free ticket and a small sum of money to tide them over the first few weeks of their return.
Nov 5, 2010
Readers of our blogs will know that in the past six months MRN together with ILPA and AIRE Centre has been working on scrutinising the latest UKBA pilot on expulsion of homeless EU migrants. After producing a fact sheet and organisng strategic meetings with different stakeholders, the consortium organised a training for frontline staff on legal aspects of the pilot and the rights of EU migrants.
This half-day training delivered by Adrian Berry, barrister at the Garden Court Chambers and Adam Weiss, the deputy-director of AIRE Centre, seems to have struck the right cord with participants. Mostly because of a good mix of participants, who deal with homeless EU nationals in their day to day work and wanted to know more on how to ensure the rights and wellbeing of their clients are protected.
This half-day training delivered by Adrian Berry, barrister at the Garden Court Chambers and Adam Weiss, the deputy-director of AIRE Centre, seems to have struck the right cord with participants. Mostly because of a good mix of participants, who deal with homeless EU nationals in their day to day work and wanted to know more on how to ensure the rights and wellbeing of their clients are protected.
Oct 15, 2010
The expulsion of eastern European migrants will not solve the growing problem of homelessness among this group, argues Ruth Grove-White (MRN policy officer) in an opinion article for Inside Housing magazine.
Since the early summer MRN, alongside the Immigration Law Practitioners Association and the Advice for Individual Rights in Europe Centre, has been working to raise awareness and generate debate about a new UK Border Agency pilot project which involves the expulsion of homeless European migrants from the UK. Our position is that there is the need for a full review, by Communities and Local Government, of the implementation and impact of this pilot before it is extended elsewhere across the UK, with particular regard to its impact on those migrants who find themselves the subject of enforcement activity.
Since the early summer MRN, alongside the Immigration Law Practitioners Association and the Advice for Individual Rights in Europe Centre, has been working to raise awareness and generate debate about a new UK Border Agency pilot project which involves the expulsion of homeless European migrants from the UK. Our position is that there is the need for a full review, by Communities and Local Government, of the implementation and impact of this pilot before it is extended elsewhere across the UK, with particular regard to its impact on those migrants who find themselves the subject of enforcement activity.
Aug 16, 2010
7 Comment(s)
We should be cautious about arriving at the conclusion that returning EU rough sleepers back to their country of origin is the best option for migrants who have fallen on hard times during this grim period of economic downturn.
The homeless situation of many EU migrants is often the result of a host of wider misfortunes which they have experienced in the UK. Those people who have ended up without shelter have often been subjected to the most exploitative sectors of the UK labour market, the absence of security, and poor treatment in the private housing sector which has reduced them to the position described in the recent Guardian article “Homeless Poles living on barbecued rats and alcoholic handwash”.
The homeless situation of many EU migrants is often the result of a host of wider misfortunes which they have experienced in the UK. Those people who have ended up without shelter have often been subjected to the most exploitative sectors of the UK labour market, the absence of security, and poor treatment in the private housing sector which has reduced them to the position described in the recent Guardian article “Homeless Poles living on barbecued rats and alcoholic handwash”.
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