A Birmingham house provides refugees a safe haven, offering support and hope as they rebuild their lives in the UK.
ACH assists refugees and migrants across the UK. They have offices in several cities. They help people navigate the UK system and succeed. Residents must pass an assessment, and they must have refugee status to live there. This also means residents can legally work.
Waseem Shoman and Farhiya Yassin work for ACH. Waseem is an integration and support officer. They help the residents of the house. Waseem said it’s helpful to be on-site. He helps residents with Universal Credit for housing. He also assists with travel documents and driving lessons. The team checks on residents regularly. Staff members also include Samsom, Laura, and Christy.
They gave a tour of the property. Waseem stated that seventeen of nineteen rooms are occupied. The sounds of coffee and chatter came from a kitchen. Residents cleaned in the communal kitchen. Ahmad, a resident of two years, then greeted them.
Ahmad is 29 and came from Iraq in 2015. He sadly lost most of his family, so he arrived in the UK alone. Ahmad moved to the house in 2023. Before that, he spent time in Leicester and Coventry. He even spent a few days homeless.
An Iraqi flag hangs on his door. His room is clean and tidy. Each room has a bed, desk, drawers, and wardrobe. Ahmad wants to be a lawyer. He said newcomers need someone to guide them. When he got his status, he was homeless and received a 28-day eviction notice. Being homeless in Coventry was difficult. The house has a 24-hour security line. It also has shared kitchens and bathrooms, and visiting hours are from 9 AM to 10 PM.
Farhiya said they have many success stories. Some people started businesses, while others reunited with their families. ACH checks on everyone’s well-being. Waseem added that they review support plans. They aim to make residents independent. Then, they help them move on. There’s no strict time limit for staying, however, they try their best to help each person.
ACH provides much of its support in-house. This helps connect residents. It also gives them the best chance to succeed. Ali came to the UK from Sudan in 2017 alone. He lives in ACH’s Wolverhampton accommodation. He is training for a fitness career.
Ali is at level 3 in his English course, and he also has personal training qualifications. Ali said he lived in temporary housing at first. After getting his papers, he needed to move. He didn’t know where to go, but he heard about ACH from others in similar situations. People from various countries directed him there.