24 Can’t Stay. Can’t Go. Refused asylum seekers who cannot be returned Joshua (Ethiopia), who is street homeless, and practically. I don’t have anything to give. reported that he has no friends, but that is out of (Faheem, Palestine) choice: Samir (Algeria) reported: “I don’t have too many I don’t want to be friend with homeless friends here”. His girlfriend is his emotional people. This country, people sleeping in support. Walid (Algeria) said: “I have some people the street are drug people. I don’t make I can talk to.” Walid has some friends at West friendships with anyone; I don’t know who is End Refugee Service and another friend who is a good or bad. (Joshua, Ethiopia) teacher. Three of our refused asylum seekers reported that their support network consists of people who are 3.9 Personal safety in the same situation as them: Three of our refused asylum seekers reported Well, the people I associate with they are that they do not feel safe when sleeping rough. All asylum seekers as well. So, yes, they’re in the the Red Cross staff members we spoke to worry same position usually. (Kayla, Zimbabwe) about the safety of those in this group who live on the streets: They tend to talk about the situation they are in: People often stay in places that aren’t safe, Yes, we talk to each other. But we don’t get abandoned buildings and things like that, any solution. (Bisrat, Eritrea) which are cold, damp. There’s no security. Dangerous access. So, yes, I think there’s a Kasim (Iraq) and Violet (Zimbabwe) make friends myriad of different health and safety concerns through their volunteering work. Kasim volunteers surrounding people. (Red Cross staff member, at his local Red Cross and at Justice First. He Birmingham) spoke about working in the Justice First office: The staff members in Glasgow mentioned that When these people come in here [Justice those who are destitute and street homeless are First], everyone be like “Hi, how are you vulnerable to physical abuse (Red Cross staff Kasim? How are you Kasim?” Everyone shake member, Glasgow 1 and 2) and racial abuse (Red hand, yeah, and they smile. (Kasim, Iraq) Cross staff member, Glasgow 1). Besides the friends she makes through To avoid being homeless, people sometimes resort volunteering at the Leicester Red Cross and the to “paying for accommodation in other ways, Salvation Army, Violet (Zimbabwe) is involved which can include sex and all these other things in the Zimbabwe Association, an independent, that sound like domestic servitude” (Red Cross charitable organisation that works with asylum staff member, Glasgow 1). One of the Glasgow seekers in the UK. They meet fortnightly and Red Cross staff members worries particularly talk about the current situation in Zimbabwe about her female clients. Some of them have and in the UK. “We socialise, eat, talk” (Violet, resorted to prostitution and have ended up in A&E Zimbabwe). Violet is also involved in the “beaten and abused” (Red Cross staff member, Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe group, Glasgow 2): which meets monthly. It’s just because these people are desperate Enaya (Palestine) and Faheem (Palestine) both find to make some money. I think it’s that thing it difficult to talk to other people: of, eventually, people get tired of helping you. And eventually you become a burden to them. I know a few people, but I am not telling them Yes, I think there is a risk of exploitation. I think like how I feel. (Faheem, Palestine) it’s worse, obviously, for female clients…. I think the understanding is that a female client Faheem (Palestine) also feels he has nothing to is more at risk of prostitution, exploitation bring to a friendship: through that. If she’s street homeless or she’s having to rely on people, there’s a chance I don’t want a lot of friends. I’m homeless. she might get into a bad relationship or People want something from you mentally become dependent on someone – or, through