Young refugee spent winter on London streets due to secret' hotel eviction rule

"The 19-year-old Eritrean refugee, who has provided an account of forced labour in Libya after fleeing his country, was granted refugee status last August. But despite repeatedly asking a council in north London, close to his Home Office hotel, for housing help after receiving his eviction notice, he was refused. He was evicted from his Home Office hotel on to the streets with no sleeping bag or blanket and only his jacket to keep him warm."

"Current rules state there is discretion to extend this period for those, such as the teenager, who have tried and failed to find their own accommodation and are at imminent risk of rough sleeping. The high court challenge was brought because the exemptions were not being made for many of those at risk of street homelessness."

"I'm alone in this world, he told the Guardian. I have no brother, no sister, no mother. My most important thing is my safety. I've given up on the whole world."

A 19-year-old Eritrean refugee granted asylum status was evicted from Home Office hotel accommodation after 28 days with no support despite requesting housing assistance from local council. He spent winter sleeping rough under a bush near Willesden Junction station and was assaulted twice during this period. Current Home Office rules allow discretion to extend the 28-day period for those at imminent risk of homelessness, but these exemptions were not being applied in his case. A high court challenge revealed these unpublished secret rules and highlighted systemic failures in protecting vulnerable asylum seekers from street homelessness. The teenager has since secured accommodation.

Read at www.theguardian.com