Housing providers failing contracts

Housing providers in Nottingham are failing their government
contracts to place asylum seekers in suitable accommodation, a new
report has revealed.

The report by Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum finds
that some asylum seekers were harassed and threatened by housing
staff and were forced to share rooms.

Asylum seekers also reported problems about a lack of advice on
accessing doctors, health visitors and schools, and a lack of
interpreters.

The report was based on 75 interviews with asylum seekers living in
homes provided by private companies Capital Accommodation and 21st
Century Housing and Refugee Housing Association.

Ray Chung, Capital Accommodation regional manager, said the agency
was “considering the report in its full detail” and was preparing a
response for home secretary David Blunkett this week.

– Accommodation for Asylum Seekers in Nottingham 2002 from
0115 985 9546.