Despite the pandemic, people are still becoming homeless as a result of the asylum system, and people who had temporary accommodation are losing their homes when friends or acquaintances can no longer support them.
This week we found a young man who was sofa surfing, moving from house to house every day or two. This isn’t right at any time but now he was forced to put himself and his hosts at risk each time he moved.
We knew we could house him in a shared house, but were afraid he might have Covid and put his new housemates at risk. He agreed to get tested, and we worked with Birmingham City Council to find a place he could self isolate for 10 days if he tested positive.
Luckily, he tested negative and we were able to house him that day. Another person in a warm, safe home in the middle of winter and the pandemic – but surely this shouldn’t need to happen at all?