Network Meeting 5
21 & 22 October 2010, Birmingham
Meeting venue:
Midland Heart Offices
20 Bath row
Birmingham B15 1LZ
Map
Hotel accommodation:
Ibis Birmingham City Centre
Ladywell Walk
Birmingham B5 4ST
Map
Theme: Homelessness and destitution
The theme of migrant homelessness and destitution covers three distinct categories: asylum seekers at
the point of transition to refugee status, refugees and A8/A2 migrants. As such it is a challenging topic for
the Network to address the policy and practice environment for each category and to explore the impact
on migrant communities, local areas and neighbourhoods, and the service delivery framework. The aim of
the meeting, therefore, is to:
 frame the discussion to identify causes, dimensions and experiences of homelessness and
destitution as they affect the different categories of migrants;
 assess the challenges - current and future - that will affect the solutions sought based on the
perspectives of migrants, other stakeholders in local areas; policy makers, and service providers.
 identify areas where the Network can exert influence based on these perspectives and examples
of schemes addressing the challenges.
For the purposes of the Network meeting, the 3 key areas that might underpin deliberations and lead to
actions are:
 the implications for service delivery, cohesion and integration, of migrant-specific characteristics
of homelessness in each category (such as the possible effects of asylum and dispersal; lack of
recourse to public funds; tensions around reconnection as a policy response);
 the impact of migrant homelessness and destitution on: the integration of migrants at
neighbourhood and local levels; public and political perceptions towards migration; and delivery
of services within the broader homelessness service delivery sector.
 the role, potential and limitations of housing providers, local authorities and the voluntary and
community sector to tackle the various manifestations of homelessness and destitution.
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Day 1 - 21st of October
Issues and perspectives
1-2 pm
Arrival/lunch at Midland Heart
2pm - Welcome from the Chair
2.10- 4.30pm - Network influence and outcomes.
(including 15 min coffee/tea break)

Nancy Kelley (JRF) leads a group exercise based on action points from previous meetings to
identify the forms of influence that the Network currently undertakes, could undertake, or should
undertake. The session will cover:
o
o
o
Network influence - how the Network as a collective can impact upon the wider policy
environment.
Personal influence - how the work of the Network has impacted upon the day-to-day
work of Members, including contact and activities between Members outside of formal
meetings.
Local/national influence - how Members are able to exert local/national
lobbying/campaigning influence using Network resources, knowledge and expertise.
4.45 - 5.25pm - Homelessness and destitution - overviews
 Ruth Stanier, CLG (not confirmed) - the policy overview
o

Exploration of the policy framework as it applies to each of the migration categories
where homelessness and destitution have been identified, drawing out the implications
for the Network's deliberations and scope for influence.
Vaughan Jones, Praxis - practice, people and rights
o
o
Exploring the categories from the perspective of migrants' experiences and challenges to
the service delivery framework.
Providing an overview of proposals that have been put forward to tackle the issues.
5.25 – 5.55pm - Discussion
7.00pm - Dinner
Taxis will leave from the hotel at 6.45pm
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Day 2 –22nd July
Towards solutions
9.15 - 9.30am - Gathering
9.30 - 10.00am - Update from Network members
10.00- 10.30am - What we know
 Suzanne Fitzpatrick - information from her various research projects:
o Family Homelessness and former asylum seekers
o Destitute migrants and the Housing Exclusion study
o Multiple Exclusion Homelessness and migrants
 Jenny Edwards, Homeless Link - information and view from the homelessness sector
o Homeless Migrants – who is this group? What is the extent of the issue? The current
situation and context (Use of data from CHAIN and Homeless Link research and other
data sources)
o Challenges ahead.
10.30 – 11.00am - Discussion
11.00 – 11.15am - Coffee/Tea break
11.15 – 12 noon - Practitioner responses:




Geoff Wilkins, Birmingham HOPE Partnership
o working with RSLs to tackle destitution
Ewa Sadowska, Barka
o planned reconnection with support in Poland
Paul Perkin, Look Ahead Housing and Care
o homeless families project in Barking and Dagenham
tbc,
o good practice from LAs
12.00 - 1.00pm - Discussion
1.00 – 1.45pm - Lunch
1.30 – 2.40pm - Reflection time
 using key areas posed around the homelessness and destitution (see page 1)
 identifying actions
2.40 – 2.45pm - Closing remarks
2.45pm - Finish and Depart
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