Originally from Eritrea, Tesfom has worked for the Refugee Council for 18 years. He manages our asylum programmes, including supporting people living in hotels as they endure months, if not years, of waiting while their asylum application is being processed.
“Refugees can take a long time to feel at home in a new country, because a home without your parents, your siblings, or your childhood memories is empty. That’s how I feel. I struggled to make a new home, because the home I left behind is always in me.”
“For those living in hotels, they feel like they’re in limbo. When I was seeking safety, I was staying in an ‘induction centre’, I was anxious because of the uncertainty. I was waiting, constantly thinking about getting a negative decision and being deported or detained.”
“In the hotel project we provide emotional and wellbeing support. We also help people to access education, healthcare and legal services.”
Originally from Eritrea, Tesfom has worked for the Refugee Council for 18 years.
After such an agonising wait and being finally granted refugee status, people still aren’t able to feel safe or secure as they are often given less than a month to leave their asylum accommodation and find alternative accommodation. This ‘move-on’ process is cruel and unjust, and often leads to homelessness and destitution.
Read how our Keys to the City report highlights this cruelty and calls on our elected officials to take action to end it.
