From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Tue Jul 08 2008 - 12:28:13 EDT
Africans feature in rough sleeping figures
Tue, 8 Jul 2008 | By Beena Nadeem
African nationals are showing up in large numbers for the first time in
homelessness statistics.
Rough sleeping charity Broadway recorded a total of 3,017 people sleeping
rough in London in 2007/08, amounting to roughly 300 on any night. Of the
total figure 319 were African nationals, and 189 of those were Eritreans.
The numbers could have contributed to the steady climb in rough sleepers in
the capital, which over the past three years has increased by 17 per cent.
But homeless chairty Thames Reach said there has been a 20,000 reduction in
the number of rough sleepers in London over the past 10 years.
Petra Salva, head of London Street Rescue at Thames Reach said: 'The past
year has seen London's homeless agencies devoting substantial resources to
helping Eritrean people.'
A spokesperson for the Refugee Council said the UK Borders Agency is making
asylum decisions more quickly following changes to the way applications are
processed.
'Those that have been given a decision to remain come back to London where
they feel it is less exposed and there's more communities and friends here.
Many come here thinking they are entitled to accommodation when they are
not.'
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