Bristol stands against rough sleeping immigration rules City joins #SupportDontDeport pledge Bristol has strengthened its commitment towards ending rough sleeping in the city by becoming one of the first areas in the country to sign up to Homeless Link’s #SupportDontDeport pledge against government changes to immigration rules.
The council will also not require any of its commissioned homelessness partners to make referrals or pass data to the Home Office under the rules and has pledged to only share information with the consent of the individual.
Councillor Renhard said: “To continue our push to end rough sleeping, those experiencHomeless Link, the national membership ing homelessness must be able to approach charity for organisations working directly with services provided by the council and its people who become homeless in England, partners with confidence that they will be believe the new regulations - making rough supported and not deported. We fear these sleeping grounds for refusing or cancelling a immigration rules would have the opposite person’s leave to remain in the UK - will make impact. the fight against homelessness more difficult than ever. “Those facing homelessness could be dissuaded from accessing those services for Bristol City Council has joined local authorities fear that their details will be passed to immiand homelessness organisations in deciding gration authorities, leading to an increase in not to proactively refer people to the authorrough sleeping. ities under the changes brought in by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local “We are proud of Bristol’s status as a City Government (MHCLG) in October of last year. of Sanctuary and the work we are doing to make Bristol a welcoming place for refugees As of 5 July, 88 organisations have signed the and our view is that any information should pledge, including eight local authorities. only be shared after the person in question has been given proper legal advice and given The charity has urged government to scrap their informed consent. the new rules as they fear that the policy will drive people that are already vulnerable, such “Non UK citizens who are sleeping rough can as victims of modern slavery, away from the spend months or years waiting to hear back support they require and hamper the efforts to from the Home Office in order to resolve bring an end to rough sleeping. their status and we are continuing to work with a range of local and national partners, Bristol’s decision to back the pledge was including central government and our comincluded within a Golden Motion moved by missioned partner St Mungo’s, to find ways Councillor Tom Renhard, the Cabinet member of supporting people to move off the streets for Housing Delivery and Homes, and passed regardless of their migration status. at last night’s (Tuesday, 6 July) Full Council meeting. 32
