The 10 October is World Homeless Day.
Many people who seek safety in Britain face homelessness after waiting for months and sometimes years for their asylum decision. Once granted refugee status, they have just 28 days to find housing and work, their options are limited.
Ruba is an advocate for refugee and disability rights. A refugee from Sierra Leone, he was at risk of becoming homeless. He was trying to find accommodation while also living with sight loss.
Our Destitution Service helps people by offering emergency housing, food and other support. Through accessing this service, Ruba was able to rebuild his life in the UK.
If you would like to help people like Ruba, please follow this link to donate.
Ruba wants to use his voice to make the world a better place
My name is Ruba, I am from Sierra Leone, and I am a refugee who is blind. For years, I was very active in politics and campaigned for the rights of disabled people.
I was well-known in my country as a disability activist, and for this reason, I was seen as someone who may talk against the new Sierra Leonean government.
I was easy to identify. My house was attacked, and there was a lot of intimidation. It wasn’t safe. My family was threatened, too.
Once I was recognised as a refugee I received an eviction notice and had to leave my asylum accommodation.
The Refugee Council has been a lifeline to me. Many more people desperately need the help I got.
Once I was recognised as a refugee I received an eviction notice and had to leave my asylum accommodation. Kellie, a Destitution Coordinator at the Refugee Council, supported me throughout, she helped me with food vouchers so I would have enough to eat.
Ruba was supported by our Destitution Coordinator
She put me onto their counselling programme, and it brought such joy to my life to have someone to talk to regularly. She helped me get legal support, a housing solicitor who worked with the Home Office to find me an accessible place to live.
The Refugee Council played a vital role in providing support to me and many others. I know this could never have been possible if people had not been able to donate.■
You can see Ruba’s full story here. If you would like to support people like Ruba, please donate here.
