LONDON RECONNECTION TEAM

2009-2013

RECONNECTED2360

LONDON RECONNECTION TEAM

Many migrants have found themselves homeless because of the difficulty to obtain low-skilled jobs in parts of the

economy. This is not least because of a steep rise in unemployment among

nationals, many of whom with higher qualifications that have been prepared

to take low skilled jobs.

LONDON RECONNECTION TEAM

Partly as a result, a disproportionate number of migrants work in the informal economy, where they have no access normal social rights for

*Unemployment Benefits* Social Support This is especially so for those without ‘official papers’.

Accordingly, those #without jobs #friends or relatives to assist or to support them

often have little choice but to live on the streets and sleep rough or in shelters

LONDON RECONNECTION TEAM

The rise in homelessness among the migrants has put increasing pressure on voluntary organisations which are seriously struggling to cope with the

increased demand for their assistance as a result of cutbacks in both benefits and social services: Thames Reach is one with many successful projects to

assist homeless people including LRT.

LRT MODEL

• Work with vulnerable EU National verified rough sleepers – In all 33 London boroughs

• Support & Assisted Voluntary reconnection back to family, employment or a support service

• Part of LRT is to support Vulnerable Men trafficked for forced labour and criminality

LR TEAM• The LR team is fully dedicated and the majority of team

members are highly educated with levels in psychology and social services subjects

• Posses multi language skills which significantly assists LRT to understand and deal with the vulnerable clients

• Manage the whole reconnection process from start to finish• Access temporary accommodation prior to reconnection• Agree treatment pre and post reconnection - travel with the

most vulnerable• Continued liaising and visiting overseas support agencies• Follow up

LONDON RECONNECTION TEAM

• In summary, our main aim is to prevent the unnecessary deaths of people sleeping rough on the streets of London.

• We help people to return home with dignity and ensure support is in place.

• We do not believe that it is an option for Central and Eastern Europeans to remain as rough sleepers on the streets of London for years, living in destitution

LONDON RECONNECTION TEAM

The core parts of the homeless population since the crisis began are:

//People who have lost their jobs

//Have suffered a sudden reduction in income

// Mental Health Issues

// The drug or alcohol addicts

// The social misfits

LONDON RECONNECTION TEAM

• There are three models of reconnection that you can consider; these are // ticket only• Newly arrived in the UK as part of a 'scam'• Been in the UK for only a short time• Recently lost work• No dependency issues• Have support at home // assisted return – • Been in the UK for a while• Rough sleeping• Alcohol / drug issues• Poor health// supported return –• Been in the UK for a long time• Entrenched rough sleeping• Alcohol / drug issues• Serious health needs• No support at home

LONDON RECONNECTION TEAM

It is important to realise that reconnection is a voluntary option, as not everyone will want to return home. There may be a number of reasons for this

LONDON RECONNECTION TEAM

• Pride - for those who come to the UK to make money for their families at home, it can be very difficult to return home with nothing

• Determination to succeed - the person may be confident that he/she will find work soon

• No ties at home - there are some people who, while being nationals of one country, may have lived in others for a long period before coming to the UK and therefore have no ties to their countries of origin

• Legal history - people are sometimes reluctant to return home due to outstanding warrants or debts at home.

LONDON RECONNECTION TEAM

Where clients show no signs of being capable of work and are destitute but do not want to go home, building a relationship of trust over time and frequently exploring the benefits of returning home can be useful.

CLIENTS’ OPINION

LRT produces a client user’s survey on a regular basis and here is the feedbacks from clients who were assisted by LRT

I have chosen TR services not only out of the necessity but because I like the helpfulness of the services it provides

PARTNESHIP

• NHS Hospitals, UKBA, Salvation Army, Police, Courts, Probation/Prison, Homeless organisations and Local Authority – make referrals

• Embassies – liaise with returning country authorities, documents

• Support Agencies in Returning Countries – provide accommodation and support

THE FUTURE

• Involved in wider issues affecting migrants through Embassy contacts

• Closely involved with wider issues of homelessness through Thames Reach

• Important to keep awareness high

LONDON RECONNECTION TEAM

Legislation update on request

Relevant EEA Legislation:

*The Free Movement Of Persons Directive 2004/38/EC

*The Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulation 2006

Immigration Regulations

• Under regulation 6 of the Immigration (EEA) Regulations 2006, a qualified

person is an EEA national who is in the UK and exercising free movement

rights in any of the following categories:

• An EEA national is a qualified person exercising Treaty rights if they are:

•A worker (work must be meaningful and effective not marginal and ancillary)

•A self-Employed person (work must be meaningful and effective not marginal and ancillary)

•A self-sufficient person (must also have comprehensive sickness insurance)

•A student (must also have comprehensive sickness insurance)

•A jobseeker (the person must be actively seeking work and have a genuine chance of getting a job in UK).

Immigration Regulations

EEA nationals who can show that they meet any of these criteria can apply for

documentation to show their right of residence. Only qualified persons have

a right of residence in the UK.

Immigration Regulations

EEA nationals can now be administratively removed from UK for

the abuse of free movement rights

Immigration Regulations

On 1st January 2014 the Home Office approach to deportation and removal of EEA nationals changed

Re- entry restrictions following administrative removal:

Immigration Regulations

EEA nationals who are administratively removed for not exercising Treaty Rights (under the current provisions) will not be

Able to re-enter the UK for twelve months following removal unless they can demonstrate that they will immediately be exercising Treaty Rights upon re-entry

Housing Benefits

New migrant jobseekers from the European Economic Area (EEA) will no longer be able to get Housing Benefit

from April 2014

Benefits Updates

The UK's Work and Pensions Minister, Ian Duncan Smith, has decreed that, from March 1st onwards, EU migrants to the UK must normally be able to show that they have earned at least £150 per week for at least three months before they can claim UK benefits such as Jobseekers Allowance (unemployment benefit)

THANK YOU!

www.thamesreach.org.uk

www.londonreconnet.org.uk lydia.haritonova@thamesreach.org.uk

07590862695

ANY QUESTIONS