Scotland’s Immigration Policies Leading to Homelessness

The UK’s unwelcoming immigration policy is pushing thousands of individuals in Scotland, previously integrated members of society, into severe poverty and homelessness, a recent report uncovers.
The study encompasses a survey of individuals seeking emergency assistance from Fair Way Scotland, a consortium of third-sector organisations striving to avert homelessness and destitution among those without access to public funds (NRPF) or facing other restrictions on state support.
The research conducted by Heriot-Watt University, backed by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, brought to light that deprivation, hunger, lack of clothing, and toiletry essentials were prevalent, with rough sleeping being commonplace.
Noteworthy findings from the research are:
- 97% of respondents were destitute, with an average weekly income of a meagre £40. A third reported no income in the past month, with hunger and meal-skipping being standard, as two-thirds had forgone meals, clothing, and toiletries in the recent month.
- 93% were facing homelessness, with 53% having slept rough in the last year. Half of them were in temporary accommodations provided by charitable organisations, local councils, or the Home Office. In the past year, 58% vacated their accommodations with nowhere to turn.
- Individuals in the impacted groups showed significantly poorer physical and mental health compared to the general populace. Experiences of trauma, violence, stigma, and discrimination were widespread.
- 66% of the surveyed individuals were prohibited from working, severely hindering their ability to improve their circumstances. Of the 15% permitted to work and actively seeking employment, they encountered difficulties securing jobs due to health issues, homelessness, and language barriers. Incidents of illegal and exploitative work arose due to lack of choice.
- 14% reported being coerced into work within the past year, with the figure rising to 16% for EEA nationals. Testimonies in the report shed light on the mental and physical toll on individuals who were barred from working despite their desire to contribute.
- Hostile environment policies and complex immigration laws transfer costs onto public services, charities, and communities, with a considerable reliance on expensive emergency and urgent care among the affected groups.
The majority of interviewees have resided in Scotland for several years, some even decades. This group includes individuals with NRPF who sought asylum and exhausted their appeal rights, and those who came on spousal or student visas.
The report also addresses European Economic Area nationals who, post-Brexit, are unable to access mainstream housing and welfare assistance despite living and working in the UK for an extended period.
The study urges all levels of government to swiftly amend the situation of “destitution by design.” Recommendations call upon the UK Government to simplify the pathways to settlement and for the Scottish Government to employ all devolved powers to halt the deteriorating humanitarian crisis.
The study underscores the positive impact of Fair Way Scotland, offering crucial support to its beneficiaries. The holistic casework assistance, aiming to progress their immigration cases, aid in engaging with legal entities and the Home Office, and address immediate and broader needs, is widely appreciated.
Alongside the casework support, Fair Way Scotland supplies some accommodation and modest financial aid in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen. However, the demand significantly surpasses the available resources due to limited funding.
In the 2023-24 period, the Fair Way Scotland partnership provided casework support to 1,229 individuals across the three cities, a notable increase from the 744 beneficiaries in its initial year of operation (2022-23). This mirrors the broader trend of escalating migrant destitution across the UK.
Professor Beth Watts-Cobbe, from the Institute for Social Policy, Housing, Equalities Research (I-SPHERE) at Heriot-Watt University, expressed, “The distressing levels of need, deprivation, injustice, and trauma faced by individuals with No Recourse to Public Funds or Restricted Eligibility amount to a humanitarian emergency among a group often shielded from public view. Many of the affected individuals have been residing in the UK for years, if not decades, contributing to our communities but left without access to fundamental support.”
She continued, “The report demonstrates this is an immensely varied group, encompassing asylum seekers, EEA nationals confronting post-Brexit hurdles, and migrants arriving for educational pursuits or with partners. The fact that two-thirds of those we spoke with are prohibited from employment severely restricts their capacity to uplift themselves from these dire circumstances and stifles their ability to contribute to the society they are eager to call home.”
“The punitive hostile environment directives affect thousands across Scotland, thwarting their potential and perpetuating destitution through deliberate design. The level of need is shocking, but the issue is entirely preventable with concerted actions. It is time to put an end to the blame game. Immediate and radical reforms are crucial that prioritise individuals’ access to essentials and decent living standards. The new UK administration must pledge to eradicate the unnecessary hardships arising from the existing immigration policies and urgently alter its course. We also entreat Westminster to back the Scottish Government and other devolved regions in their endeavours to ensure all, irrespective of immigration status, access basic necessities,” she added.
Deborah Hay, senior policy advisor (Scotland) at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, highlighted the critical necessity of expanding Fair Way Scotland given the rising demand for assistance. Nevertheless, she emphasised that mitigation programmes like this should not be requisite.
She explained, “The comprehensive support package provided by Fair Way Scotland partners, encompassing casework assistance, legal counsel, accommodation, and financial support, can be transformative, even lifesaving, for those who avail themselves of it. However, the demand outstrips the availability.”
Hay stressed the need for increased involvement and investment from various stakeholders to elevate this response to cater to the soaring need. Collaboration among the Scottish Government, independent funders, local authorities, and housing associations is crucial to mitigate the harm due to prevailing immigration policies.
Urgent Recommendations
The report outlines several immediate recommendations to thwart the exacerbating humanitarian crisis, including:
- Exhorting all tiers of government to terminate “destitution by design” within immigration policies and implement measures that ensure non-UK nationals evade homelessness and destitution.
- Impelling the UK Government to streamline pathways to settlement, ensuring fair and prompt processing of claims and necessitating, empowering, and appropriating resources for local, regional, and devolved governments to provide an immediate basic safety net for all.
- Enjoining the Scottish Government to utilise all devolved levers at its disposal and allocate resources to effectively materialise its vision of eradicating homelessness and destitution in Scotland.
- This includes copartnering with independent funders, housing associations, and other collaborators to rapidly expand Fair Way Scotland, enabling the consortium to offer more individuals secure housing in community-based residences, with connected financial aid and access to legal advice and additional support.
Lived Experience
The report features narratives from individuals directly impacted by the UK’s ‘hostile environment’ immigration policy, like Sofija, a European citizen who has resided in Scotland for nine years.
Throughout most of this period, Sofija dwelled in precarious and exceedingly insecure accommodations and eventually endured street homelessness. Describing her ordeal, she recounted, “It was a dreadful jolt, an experience that nearly broke me. I was constantly scrambling for a place to stay.”
Jamal, having lived in the UK for 17 years following asylum from persecution, lamented, “You cannot work. You cannot support your family. You cannot support your kids… it turned [my] relationship upside down.”
Kunal, who arrived in the UK over a decade ago as a 26-year-old fleeing persecution for being gay in his homeland, revealed the challenges. He struggled to afford student accommodation and shared a cramped space with a dozen individuals initially, impeding his studies’ focus. After facing homelessness due to a visa refusal and other adversities, he found solace in temporary housing with the Scottish Refugee Council’s aid, yet uncertainty looms over his future.
Exposing his turmoil, Kunal shared, “I long to return home but know it would expose me to certain danger. I’m not safe here [either]. I’m trying to reduce my possessions now, giving them to charity, making it easier to move from place to place.”