Housing Challenges Facing Refugees in Northern Ireland

Housing Challenges Facing Refugees in Northern Ireland

Lul shares her story:

‘When I came to Northern Ireland, I was welcomed. I was provided a place to stay. I was given some money to live on. 

I feel very good and very grateful. Since I was welcomed and given a house, I want to study and I want to work and contribute to society.

When I was new here, I had a challenge when I had to go to the hospital. I don’t speak English and when I was discharged from the hospital I didn’t know where to go. I didn’t know what to do and they said they would book a taxi for me, but I couldn’t find the taxi and I didn’t know how to call them. It was a rainy day and I had to walk from the Royal Hospital the whole way to the place I was staying.

Northern Irish people are very hospitable and it’s a welcoming society. I think that it’s a very good place for me to live. The people are very good but the challenge for me is learning English so I can communicate. I’m learning the language now so I can become more integrated.  

Language is the key, so I would ask the government to create  a strategy so that people can learn for the first five years. If we can study the culture and the language this will help with our transition. That’s the number one priority. If a person cannot communicate in the language of the country it’s like being a deaf person.

The other issue is housing. I live in temporary accommodation and it’s damp and hazardousfor health. I really don’t think this is good for my child who is allergic. It’s not up to standard or a safe environment. Housing is a big challenge  for me.’

‘Asha’ tells her story: 

‘I came here in November 2009 to ask for asylum. When you are an asylum seeker, you can’t work for a long time. You can’t do what other people do. It’s very, very difficult. I went to the court many times for reviews to get my status. After many long years of waiting I got my refugee status in 2017. After that I thought everything would go well but everything is very slow. 

Belfast is a nice place. It’s safe and the people are nice  and welcoming. The only problem is the weather! It’s not like  my country here, it’s safe, and has good education and health care.

When I got my refugee status in 2017 they kicked me out of the house and I was homeless. So I moved into the Women’s Aid hostel. For more than six years I’ve been waiting for a house. It’s very slow. Living in just two rooms with my children is

difficult sometimes and they ask me, ‘Mommy when will we go

to a house?’ and I say, ‘I don’t know, you have to wait. One day.’

I would like to get social housing in a safe area in South Belfast. I’ve gone many times to Sinn Fein and the DUP and the Housing Executive. I go to the office every day, to explain what I need. But still there is no change. Sometimes I give up and sometimes I say ‘I won’t give up! Maybe one day you will get it.’ I try everything but it’s very slow. I live in the homeless hostel and I see local people arriving in the homeless system and after a few months they get a place to stay. It doesn’t feel fair. But I will wait and one day, maybe I will get a house. 

Before I came here I didn’t speak English at all. I went to  Belfast Met for nine months andI’m going to English classes  at night time at the Presbyterian Church. My English is improving and it’s easier to talk to people, to say what I want or if I have a problem.

I don’t understand how the system works. You know, when you  had a hard life before, you think when you get refugee status,  everything will be easy, but everything is very, very slow.Still I never give up. I say, ‘Your day is coming, maybe  tomorrow or maybe next year or maybe next week.’ Some people, when they get their status, move to another place. But I will stay here forever, until one day my country is safe.’  

‘Sara’ shares her story:

‘I came to this country in 2014. I felt welcome when I came to Northern Ireland. I was not given refugee status at the beginning because I had been a refugee in Italy. I had to wait for five years and I went to the immigration tribunal. In 2018, when my Italian refugee status expired, the Home Office gave me another chance and at the beginning of 2019 they gave me permission to stay in the country. The years of waiting caused me a lot of health problems because I had a lot of anxiety about my future, and also my child became sick.  

After I got refugee status, I was offered temporary accommodation in a hostel. After six months, I was offered  long-term accommodation in social housing. Then a racist came and painted ‘OUT’ on my front door. The police came and said I had to flee the house and goback to the hostel. I didn’t want to leave my house. I’m from a very difficult place and I wanted to stay but they said ‘This is not safe for you and we want to protect you’. I was so shocked because I thought I was safe but I was threatened trapped. I had to go back to the homeless hostel and I’ve been living there for nearly five years. The people who manage thehostel are very nice and assist me with anything I need.

Language is another difficulty I face, so I’m trying to learn  the language now. I have a lot of medical conditions and I bring my son to the Homework Club at HAPANI. If I get extra support for my child at home or at school that would be very helpful and then also get a place to call home. I hope my future is to study, communicate in the language in this country and improve my situation. This country has welcomed me and I’m very grateful.’