It's hard to image how it must feel to be a refugee, to be forced to flee a traumatic situation in your own country, leave behind friends and family and make the long and potentially dangerous journey - possibly at the hands of people smugglers - to a country where you can at least be safe.
Once here, those who claim asylum must deal not only with an at times baffling and bureaucratic system but with the practical and psychological challenges of restarting a new life in a new country, living in a new culture, adapting to new systems, and sometimes having to learn a new language.
Though the Home Office have aimed to make a decision on whether or not to grant refugee status within six months, the reality is that many people wait much longer to hear if they are allowed to stay. But when the letter telling them they have been recognised as a refugee under the 1951 Convention comes through, the feeling is one of celebration and relief. Unfortunately, there is a sting in the tail.
High levels of homelessness
While they are awaiting a decision on their claim, a person seeking asylum will be housed in accommodation funded by the UK Border Agency. But on being recognised as a refugee, they can no longer stay in that accommodation and are given notice to leave within 28 days.
While refugees are legally entitled to all the same options as their fellow Scots, this unrealistically short notice period means that many will be forced to present to their local authority as homeless. They will ultimately remain in temporary accommodation for an extensive period of time waiting for suitable housing to become available. According to our 2009/10 statistics, 96% of people accessing Scottish Refugee Council's Housing services had been homeless at some point.
One refugee, interviewed in our 2009 report Navigating the Maze: Refugee Routes to Housing, Support and Settlement in Scotland, said: 'When we became homeless, we were told anything could happen…We would have liked more information on how to avoid getting into horrible places. We didn't know what would happen next, didn't know what to expect.'
Vulnerable group
The Scottish Government has included mention of refugees as a specific vulnerable group in the 2009 Guidance on the Prevention of Homelessness and in the Code of Guidance on Homelessness 2005 - both very welcome inclusions. But refugees don't show up in the official statistics. As such, their plight is not as visible as it should be and their voices go unheard in the mainstream.
Without stable, safe and affordable accommodation, they are unable to start the rest of their lives anew. As one individual, also interviewed as part of our Navigating the Maze report said, 'It's a hectic and stressful time. You have to apply for Income Support and Job Seekers Allowance and there is no support for your child until you claim Child Benefit. It's a long procedure.'
People have to put on hold study, training, and sustainable employment, which in turn affects their ability to integrate into Scottish society. Whilst legally entitled to look at other housing options, such as private lets, our work shows us that only the social housing sector can offer refugees affordable, secure housing options of reasonable quality.
It is for this reason that we believe that the need for more and better quality social housing has never been greater - that goes for refugees and for others across Scottish society. It makes economic sense too - there is a financial as well as social return on investment in housing, given the costs that result from failing communities and homelessness.
A holistic approach
In addition to investing in new and improved housing stock, Scottish Refugee Council would like to see maintained or increased investment in a holistic approach to housing and homelessness. We need to think about investment in services which promote tenancy sustainment, provide finance and welfare rights advice, employment and education advice, and which help vulnerable people build social networks.
It is these services, offering early interventions, which can empower people, help them to sustain their tenancy, and in the long term deliver savings to the public purse by diverting people away from the homelessness system.
Finally, we need to start bringing the housing needs of refugees out of the shadows and put them at the heart of housing policy. Only then can be really start working on the solutions.
Find out more on our website at www.scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk, or download the Navigating the Maze report in PDF format.