No Recourse To Public Funds (NRPF) - Support Groups
Services that are providing accommodation services often rely on Housing Benefit payments and therefore exclude or limit places for NRPF clients. Other services are funded to work with specific groups and, as a result, are less likely to provide a service to NRPF clients who are less likely to have evidence of a local connection.
Clients with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) are at high risk of homelessness and destitution because they cannot access mainstream housing, welfare benefits and employment. Services can find it difficult to engage with NRPF clients due to the limited support options available.
There is scope for greater flexibility from voluntary sector agencies, charitable organisations, social enterprises or community organisations to support people with NRPF; depending upon their funders requirements.
Charities whose aims and objectives are relevant to the support of clients with no recourse to public funds often set up services for NRPF clients. Services operating with unrestricted funds, including many faith-based groups, and services with open access provision, e.g. day centres, soup kitchen etc. are often more able and willing to support NRPF clients. They offer activities to help people overcome social exclusion and isolation by providing a safe place, an open door, and a holistic approach to addressing their issues. Attending these activities connect people to their communities and overcome some of the challenges they face.
Support groups provide a holistic and whole-life approach care to people. They are an alternative to mental health trusts and local services who cannot always serve people due to limited funding. They work with people at grass root levels and offer culturally sensitive tailored service provision to meet the needs of their target community. They offer varying services i.e. spoken English sessions, health and wellbeing sessions, volunteering opportunities, coffee mornings, mother and toddler groups, drop-in session and many more.
There are also a small number of specialist services dedicated to the support of NRPF groups such as destitute asylum seekers. These agencies are primarily found in asylum dispersal areas and larger cities.
Here you will find out more information on support services in the Black Country
Wolverhampton City of Sanctuary
Wolverhampton City of Sanctuary supports asylum seekers in Wolverhampton and educates the public about the issues they face. It has a fund which can provide subsistence, emergency accommodation and other help to homeless and destitute asylum seekers in the area, and a weekly drop-in where people are welcomed and signposted to appropriate sources of help.
- Email: enquiries@wolvescofs.com
- Phone: 0743 802 7381
- Website: https://wolverhampton.cityofsanctuary.org/
Enterprise (EHG)
Enterprise (EHG) is a charitable organisation involved in all aspects of housing and homelessness from rough sleeping right through to affordable housing in the private sector. EHG brings together the Wolverhampton Church Shelter; Hope into Action: Black Country (supported accommodation for Refugees, Migrants and Destitute Asylum Seekers amongst others); a Social Enterprise providing free residential training (predominantly aimed at NRPFs) and a Social Enterprise Property Management and Lettings Agency.
Austin Smith House
Austin Smith House is a house of hospitality for destitute asylum seekers and refugees. They provide accommodation for single adult men but also more than that, they seek to provide a home. They do not take anyone with drug or alcohol addiction or serious mental health problems. There is no maximum stay as such, so spaces come up infrequently.
- Contact: Martin Newell
- Phone: 0121 772 7933
- Email: austinsmithhouse@passionists-uk.org
- Website: https://passionists.org.uk/
BIRCH
BIRCH (Birmingham Community Hosting Network) runs a hosting network aiming to relieve the destitution of asylum seekers whose Home Office support and accommodation has been cut off. We have a growing network of volunteer community hosts who provide short term accommodation to those who are destitute and have nowhere to go.
- Contact: David Hirst
- Phone: 07709 645097
- Email: david@birchnetwork.org
- Website: https://birchnetwork.org/
Fatima House
Fatima House project is a partnership between different organisations of the Catholic Church in Birmingham which provides free of charge/temporary accommodation to destitute asylum seeker women. They receive referrals only from organisations which have signed a memorandum of understanding with Fatima House.
- Contact: Mauricio Silva
- Email: Fatimahouse@fatherhudsons.org.uk
- Phone: 07393 237 395
- Website: Fatima House
Hope Projects
Hope Projects challenges flawed refusals of asylum. Working with a network of partner charities across Birmingham, Coventry and the Black Country they provide housing, financial support and legal advice and representation along with peer support activities.
- Email: admin@hope-projects.org.uk
- Website: www.hope-projects.org.uk