105 Days of Courage: Mohammed’s Journey of Finding a Home after Eviction

Note: mentions of suicide ideation, distress, depression, homelessness

"The process was supposed to take a maximum of 15 days. It took four months."

Can you describe what the days immediately after receiving eviction notice were like?

When I was granted refugee status, the hotel management gave me one month to find accommodation. I was evicted after a month. I spent a lot of time outdoors, I stayed almost 22 days in the park, sometimes in the mosque, in the church as well. I didn't have a friend, I didn't have relatives in London, and I couldn't stay outdoors or in the (train) station because at the time it was winter, and the temperature would drop to minus three or four degrees.

During this time, every day I sent an email to the Council informing them about where I was sleeping. I kept searching for houses, but the landlords did not accept DSS because they know the process takes three or four months and the rent is lower. They have many other people who can pay from their own pocket, so they give those people priority. I sent more than 200 texts and emails, but they did not respond to me.

Then I changed my strategy. I mentioned I'm looking for a room urgently and when I met them, I told them about my situation and that once I'm in a better place, I will pay out of my own pocket. Finally, I found a room in a shared accommodation in Brockley in March. My eviction date was 25th February, yet I moved into the room on 10th June.

"This time was so hard for me that I reached a point where I didn't want to live. These were very bad days."

Most people assume that finding a room means the hard part is over. What was the reality of those months between signing a contract and actually moving to the accommodation?

When I received my eviction notice, I visited Camberwell Church and made the application for homelessness, after which I was referred to Kineara. The communication was very professional, polite and kind. They stayed with me, spent almost two, three hours or sometimes more, asked me questions and supported me with viewings, information, important links, etc. When I found the room in Brockley, the landlord told me that the contract will start from 20th March, and if I didn't agree with that, he would go ahead with the next tenant. When I discussed this with Kineara, we agreed that this was okay as the place was nice, and it was nearby. We also got approval from the Council officers. However, when I called the landlord, they refused to give me the key for the house. There is a rule that the Council supports refugees with first month's rent and an incentive, which is like a deposit. The landlord had not received first month's rent or the incentive, so I couldn't move.

When you find a room and sign a contract, you're supposed to immediately update your Universal Credit to say you've found accommodation and give the start date. Kineara told me about this but there were so many things happening at once that I forgot. So when I applied in June, UC told me that I could not get backdated rent for April and May, which I still owe to the landlord.

In the meantime, I stayed with one of my classmates from my ESOL classes for about one month and 15 days. The process was supposed to take a maximum of 15 days. It took four months.

How did this experience affect your well-being?

This time was so hard for me that I reached a point where I didn't want to live. These were very bad days, and the Council did not respond to me. I lost my mobile, my laptop when I went to a viewing that turned out to be fraud. That made me very depressed, it gave me a very hard time. But gladly, Kineara was able to provide a laptop for me because they reached out to the tech communication aid.

This is the procedure (for asylum) and one must follow this procedure, but this was a tough time.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please call Mind's support line 0300 102 1234.

"The Home Office had stopped the benefits, and I was not allowed to work. Universal Credit needed a bank account, and the bank would not create a bank account without a home address. During this time, sometimes I put in a text at 10 or 11pm to Kineara officers and they responded to me. I really appreciated these things. This is not an exaggeration and I'm not just saying this for the interview, but this is the reality."

What kind of support were you able to access?

There was close coordination with Kineara, who gave us good instructions regarding how to find the house, how to move from the temporary accommodation to your room, what steps you must take before you move from the hotel. They provided me a £240 gift card for a kitchen kit, stools, blackets, pillows, the initial things. They helped me more and more in that tough time when you leave the hotel and move to a new place.

For almost like a month or two in between, the home office had stopped the benefits, and I was not allowed to work. Universal credit needed a bank account, and the bank would not create a bank account without a home address. During this time, sometimes I put in a text at 10 or 11 pm to Kineara officers and they responded to me. I really appreciated these things. This is not an exaggeration and I'm not just saying this for the interview, but this is the reality. A Lot of people have good experience with Kineara because the team is very kind. Their way of communication is very humble. Sometimes they told me, this is not our job, but in a very kind way, so we understand that this is not their responsibility because everyone has their own specific authority or duties.

"If I am able to get a job, I can pay rent. There is no more need for government benefits. The government will save more money and we will stand on our own legs."

Now that you have found accommodation, what does the road ahead look like for you?

I have a room, but I have still not received the incentive from the Council.

I have a masters degree in Project Management. I am also a graduate in Water Management and Forestation. So I will train.

The job centre asks about your experience and your interests, and then sends you links to Indeed. The same links anyone can find themselves. There's no real connection to employers, no introduction, no advocacy. I am also in a good place because I know a little bit of English, I have previous expeirence. When some time passes, my English will be good. Language is not the basis for the future. It's key to success, but its not the basis for my future. Some people, they struggle in English language, they don't know how to use technology, I wonder how they will survive. Atleast I can use email and follow up on Whatsapp. If I am able to get a job, I can pay rent. There is no more need for government benefits. The government will save more money and we will stand on our own legs.

What would you say to the Council or any decision maker reading this story?

First of all, there should be coordination between all the organisations that support refugees. When someone receives refugee status and moves from temporary accommodation to a new accommodation, their information should be shared automatically. There should be a system so that the bank account is created, the Universal Credit account is updated, and the housing payment begins and there is no gap of four or six months.

The first step should be the bank account. Without a bank account, universal credit cannot be set up, and nothing else works. The council should send a standard letter to banks on behalf of each person, confirming their status and new address. Then Universal Credit can be set up. From there, housing payments can flow.

"The burden on people in this situation is immense. Dividing that burden properly between councils, housing organisations, and charities and giving charities the tools to act can make a positive impact." — Mohammed

The views expressed by the client are their own, Kineara does not endorse any views or recommendations.