14 December 2017

The High Court has today ordered the Government to stop removing homeless EU nationals from the UK, ruling that the policy is unlawful.[1]

This follows a Home Office decision, in May 2016, to update its guidance to claim that rough sleeping constitutes an ‘abuse’ or ‘misuse’ of freedom of movement rights. As a result, it was able to detain and force EU nationals to leave the UK, regardless of whether they are employed or have permanent residency.[2]

Jean Lambert, London’s Green MEP, responded to the news:

“This result is a significant blow to the Government’s “hostile environment” – a welcome reminder that the Home Office is, in fact, accountable to the law.

While the Government has continually refused to release up-to-date figures on the number of EU nationals detained and removed for rough sleeping, it’s thought this runs into the hundreds – if not thousands. The Home Office may now face a raft of legal claims from those affected.

According to the latest official figures, 17% of rough sleepers in the UK last autumn were EU nationals. This figure soared to 31% of all rough sleepers in my constituency, London. This means more than 700 individuals from the EU have been at risk of removal from the UK – simply for falling upon hard times.

Of course, this does not solve the growing crisis of homelessness in the UK: there is still much work to be done to find solutions for that. However, today’s result is a symbol of the growing discontent with Theresa May’s “hostile environment”. Thanks to Migrants’ Rights Network and Liberty, the Home Office may soon be back in the High Court to defend its data-sharing agreement between the NHS and the Home Office which puts vulnerable migrants at risk. [3]

I congratulate the organisations involved and hope this decision sends a strong message to the Home Office – you will be held to account, and the rights of vulnerable people must be protected.”

Notes:

[1] http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/homeless-eu-citizens-deporting-illegal-policy-home-office-high-court-ruling-brexit-stop-a8110001.html

[2] http://www.politics.co.uk/comment-analysis/2017/11/30/theresa-may-s-homeless-deportation-programme

[3] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-homelessness

[4] https://migrantsrights.org.uk/blog/2017/11/09/mrn-legal-challenge-nhs-data-sharing-deal-press-release/

The post Green MEP celebrates “significant blow” to the Government’s ‘hostile environment’​ appeared first on Jean Lambert MEP.

Jean Lambert, London’s Green MEP, has written an article for Politics.co.uk on the Government’s cruel policy of removing homeless EEA nationals from the UK.

Read the article below, or on Politics.co.uk here.

Theresa May’s homeless deportation programme

Last week, the chancellor pledged to invest £20m in schemes to support people on the brink of homelessness and end rough-sleeping by 2027. This is a welcome step towards resolving the UK’s rapidly escalating homelessness crisis.

But as ever the government’s compassion only extends to those holding a British passport. As the chancellor spoke, representatives of the Home Office were in the nearby Royal Courts of Justice, defending its policy of removing EEA nationals for sleeping rough.

It’s no secret that Theresa May has been working to reduce net migration to the “tens of thousands”, and make Britain a “really hostile environment for illegal migration”. One way of achieving this is to make it harder for migrants to keep a roof over their heads.

During her tenure as home secretary, the government cut housing benefits to EEA nationals. This also made it even more difficult for them to access support from homelessness charities, forcing many to sleep on the streets. Since 2010/11, the number of people sleeping rough in London from central and eastern Europe has risen by about 79%, compared with a 56% increase among those born in the UK.

As a means to the same end, the Home Office has deliberately broadened the net of who qualifies as an “illegal migrant”. In May 2016, it updated its guidance to claim that rough sleeping constitutes an ‘abuse’ or ‘misuse’ of freedom of movement rights. This enables the Home Office to criminalise homeless EEA nationals – detaining and forcing them to leave the UK, regardless of whether they are holding down a job or have permanent residency.

Despite pressure from campaigners, the government has declined to release up-to-date figures on these removals. Last week, my Green party colleague Caroline Lucas was informed by the immigration minister that this information “could only be supplied at disproportionate cost”. Given the Home Office’s obsession with hoovering up and sharing data, it beggars belief that it doesn’t have these figures to hand.

In the absence of this official data, charities estimate that the Home Office has detained and removed hundreds – if not thousands – of homeless EEA nationals from the UK. achieving this is to make it harder for migrants to keep a roof over their heads.

There’s no question that these actions are legally precarious. No other country in Europe is known to consider rough sleeping to be an ‘abuse’ or ‘misuse’ of freedom of movement rights, or to have removed EEA nationals on these grounds. Meanwhile, the European Commission is crystal clear – it’s illegal to use homelessness as an excuse to remove an EU citizen.

These removals are yet another indication that the Home Office operates within a moral vacuum. Nobody sleeps on the street unless their other options are exhausted. Being homeless is not a crime. There are a myriad of reasons why EEA nationals may find themselves in this position – from their seasonal labour and accommodation coming to an end, to escaping trafficking and forced labour, or just being unable to find affordable accommodation.

Charities warn that many of the individuals detained or removed were desperately trying to get back on their feet. Some were job-hunting, working towards qualifications, or attempting to find accommodation. Rather than examining their individual circumstances – as the law requires – the government has unquestioningly pulled the rug out from beneath them.

I want to send a clear message to the Home Office that taking such a harsh, systematic approach to homelessness will have devastating results. Rough sleepers who fear immigration enforcement will be forced underground. They will take unnecessary risks and become more vulnerable to exploitation. This winter, some will freeze to death in the darkest corners of our towns and cities.

However, this issue also raises alarm bells over the health of our democratic system. Should the government really be able to alter what constitutes “illegality” at whim, without proper parliamentary scrutiny? If so, we should all be concerned about the potential abuse of its newfound powers after the UK has left the European Union.

That’s why I am supporting the judicial review into this policy, led by the Public Interest Law Centre and North East London Migrant Action. I am also backing campaigns at EU-level by groups including FEANTSA (the European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless), Liberty, Migrants’ Rights Network and Praxis.

Last week I met with representatives from a number of these groups in Brussels, to discuss how we can challenge this abuse. The government must be held to account now: the rights of vulnerable people must be protected.

Jean Lambert is London’s Green party Member of the European Parliament

The post Jean writes for Politics.co.uk: Theresa May’s homeless deportation programme appeared first on Jean Lambert MEP.

A new report, released today by charity Shelter, has found that one in 59 people in London are legally homeless. [1]

This problem is most acute in Newham and Haringey, where more than one in 30 people are homeless. However, the crisis is rife across the capital, where people are five times more likely to be homeless people than in any other part of the UK.

Jean Lambert, London’s Green MEP, responded to the findings:

“These new figures from Shelter give us a shocking insight into the extent of homelessness in the UK. While the national statistics are deeply worrying, it’s astonishing to learn that one in every 59 people in my constituency of London are legally homeless.

In the London borough of Newham, one in 25 people are registered homeless. In the shadow of the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, one in 31 people are homeless. And in Kensington and Chelsea, where the average house costs £2.5m, it’s one in 36.

It’s a desperate situation that could – and should – have been avoided. While the Government attempts to scapegoat local authorities, it’s clear that responsibility for this tragedy falls squarely at its own feet. This is what happens when people are faced with low wages and high housing costs, housing benefits are frozen, and councils have little power to help as aggressive funding cuts have pushed them to breaking point.

As a direct result of these policies, thousands of Londoners will sleep on our streets tonight. With winter fast approaching, it would be inhumane for the Government to turn its back. That’s why I’m echoing Shelter’s call for the Chancellor to acknowledge this crisis in the autumn Budget, and significantly increase Local Housing Allowance. If he chooses not to listen, and sticks to the current plan of freezing rates until 2020, many more will suffer.”

Notes:

[1] http://england.shelter.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/1440053/8112017_Far_From_Alone.pdf​

The post Green MEP calls for Government funding to ease London’s “desperate” homelessness crisis appeared first on Jean Lambert MEP.

Jean said: “Every winter, decision makers and media commentators across Europe discuss the plight of the homeless, seemingly forgetting that people sleep on the street for twelve months of the year.  We cannot and should not sit back and ignore this social emergency: Europe has the means to act; what is missing is the political will.

“The Greens in the European Parliament will call for the setting up of a relief fund to help Member States that do not have the financial means to address this critical situation in the current financial crisis.  I also urge the Commission to implement, without delay, the EU homeless strategy adopted by the Parliament in September.  Ending homelessness is possible and must be an EU-wide priority.”

Note to Editor

1. The resolution can be read in full at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&reference=P7-TA-2011-0383&language=EN&ring=B7-2011-047

The post Bring the homeless in from the cold, Green MEP urges appeared first on Jean Lambert MEP.

Jean, who has recently been working with homeless support organisations across the Capital, today praised Crisis for the essential work they carry out throughout the year.  Jean said; “We should not forget that the homeless are vulnerable at all times, not just at Christmas, but the festive season can be particularly lonely for those without a home or family and they need more support than usual.  It is perhaps even more difficult for the ‘hidden homeless’ who may be sleeping on friends floors for example.

“This years COC model with seven local centres offering shelter, warmth and companionship, is an excellent way of giving people the opportunity to make a long term positive change.  By connecting with local services guests can explore ways to learn new skills and opportunities as well as accessing more permanent support.

“With over 20,000 guests assisted and a quarter of a million meals served already over COC’s lifetime Crisis are making a real difference to those that find themselves in vulnerable situations.  However I do hope that they will have fewer people in need next year.”

Crisis Open Christmas will be open between Saturday 23rd and Saturday 30th December at a variety of locations across London.

ENDS

The post Crisis Open Christmas Welcomes Green MEP appeared first on Jean Lambert MEP.

After speaking with some of the homeless people Jean Lambert, who has been awarded for her work on Justice and Human Rights, praised the Simon Community for their continuing efforts but warned that unless the UK Government and Polish Authorities take serious action to support the rising number of homeless EU migrants this winter the stress on support systems in place could be critical.

Jean commented; “Here in the London a small number of homeless people on the streets are from Eastern Europe. Homeless agencies appear to be the only place many migrants can gain the support and advice they desperately require but without suitable facilities or funding sources the agencies and shelters are being put under increased pressure.   It is vital that we establish a serious strategy to ensure that the correct help and support is available to all.

“Homelessness was one of the main priority areas under the EU social inclusion strategy 2001 – 2005 and with shelter being part of our basic human rights we need to ensure this commitment continues.”

The Simon Community aims to reach out to the homeless community offering a radical alternative to institutional care that gives those in need of help a chance to contribute to everyday life.

ENDS

The post London’s Green MEP Joins Soup Run As Winter Sets In appeared first on Jean Lambert MEP.