Finding a home

Refugees often struggle to find accommodation. Kate, a landlady, and Abdul her tenant, talk about how finding a safe place to stay makes all the difference.

Abdul

"I’m an electronic engineer. I had to leave everything behind, my family, my lifestyle. A lot of refugee people are educated, there are doctors, there are engineers like me, they have no chance to find a home yet.

When a person gets his status as a refugee, he will face difficulties. When he has no connections, in the first month or two, finding work or a place can take a bit of time. I was struggling to find a room.

I was sleeping on the streets. I had a sleeping bag, in the rain. You didn’t feel safe, just trying to catch two hours of sleep, with the noises of the bus, and the people on the street. I was really terrified. My toes were bitten by foxes. I got wet and cold, it’s really hard, I don’t want to remember it. You feel safe once you have a roof over your head.

You feel safe once you have a roof over your head.

The local authority suggested getting help from the Refugee Council. The Refugee Council acted fast, they asked me questions and a week later they found me a place to stay.

I was really glad to have a roof over my head, in the beginning. Then I began to upgrade my skills through online courses, volunteering jobs, I actually do volunteering jobs helping the homeless as well.

The first time I met Mrs Kate, she was really kind. You don’t know how it affected my life. I just want to say thank you again to Kate and the Refugee Council, thank you from the bottom of my heart."

Kate

"It’s such a good idea to rent through the Refugee Council, it’s straightforward.

I started by looking online, the Refugee Council came up, it was very easy. The Refugee Council gave me a lot of support, they got back to me quickly, they were very clear and were supportive. Abdul came along with someone from the Refugee Council, it was the first time I met him. The process was quicker than I expected, it was very efficient. I was surprised talking to Abdul just how difficult finding a property had been for him. I’m pleased he can feel happy and secure here.