- Conference
- 2018 National Black Members' Conference
- Date
- 21 September 2017
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes the continuing national housing crisis and the exponential rise in homelessness.
Conference welcomes the introduction of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 which extends the previous 28 day period for ‘threatened homelessness’ to 56 days and makes clear that a valid Section 21 notice (Housing Act 1988) also constitutes being ‘threatened with homelessness’. For many Black Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) asylum seekers, agencies and advocates this change is important.
It means that those who have to vacate their accommodation on the granting of Leave to Remain will no longer be turned away by local authorities and asked to re-present on the day they are actually made homeless. However, many Black LGBT asylum seekers and refugees when presenting for a homelessness decision to their Local Authority still frequently receive ‘non-priority need’ decisions.
Much of the work undertaken to secure accommodation and access to appropriate benefits for Black LGBT asylum seekers is executed by organisations in the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, many of which struggle to find solutions for clients who are refused Section 98 (Immigration and Asylum Act 1999) support which can leave them destitute and street homeless.
This was reflected in recent research by Refugee Action, showing that more than half of people in crisis had their Section 98 applications for emergency support turned down, with the vast majority being approved when decisions were challenged.
Many organisations and advocates support their Black LGBT service users through the re-housing process which can be protracted and have significant impact upon the service user’s mental health. Access to community mental health services provided by statutory authorities is frequently time-limited and subject to long waiting lists potentially compounding existing mental health issues.
These issues are additionally compounded by the fact that services are being delivered in a post-Brexit austerity climate which has seen a resurgence in the stigmatising and scapegoating of asylum seekers and refugees by media, extremist groups and some political parties.
Conference believes UNISON should actively challenge this and call for the provision of appropriate, responsive and publicly-funded services for those members of the Black LGBT community who seek asylum and refuge in the UK.
Conference calls on the National Black Members Committee to:
1) Continue to raise these issues through Labour Link structures and Members of Parliament.
2)Continue to highlight the work of and campaign with organisations supporting LGBT asylum seekers and refugees through all appropriate media.
3)Work with the National LGBT committee and the Community Service Group Executive to highlight cases where funding is cut/discontinued for organisations supporting LGBT refugees and asylum seekers.
4)Encourage branch and regional Black Members groups to support the work of organisations such as to Stand Up To Racism.
5)Continue to work with the Local Government, Health and Community Service Group Executives to ensure that these issues remain on UNISON’s wider campaigning agenda.