Thread by @SYMAAG

Urban House Initial Accommodation Centre should be closed now. For the safety of asylum residents and of all.
@mearsgroup and @ukhomeoffice are putting people's lives in danger.
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan…
#UrbanHouse

Today's @CommonsHomeAffs report: "We urge the Home Office urgently to review the way Mears has been operating during the pandemic, to consider its poor management of service users’ welfare, and the wider public health consequences of its approach"
committees.parliament.uk/publications/2…

The @CommonsHomeAffs report on asylum accommodation and detention indicates the indignity and health risks of forced room-sharing, terminated asylum support, lack of WiFi access, no social distancing, lack of soap and PPE and lack of access to healthcare

@SYMAAG gave evidence specifically on Urban House IAC here
committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidenc…

The problems in the privatised asylum accommodation contracts: lack of capacity resulting in overcrowding, poor coordination with local authorities and lack of Home Office oversight have been amplified by the pandemic, putting the lives of asylum residents and tenants at risk.

An asylum tenant in Glasgow told us "Mears treat us like animals". Another in Wakefield had been threatened with having her children taken away unless she moved to a place she knew nobody. When will @ukhomeoffice act to oversee the £1.15 billion Mears contract?

fyi @natalieben @Stuart_McDonald @HackneyAbbott @no_evictions @PositiveActionH @DrHJLewis @caragcoventry @migrantsorg @AsylumForum @AsylumMatters @ZoeJardiniere @JCWI_UK @migrants_rights @Right_to_Remain @NACCOMnetwork @ukblm @RaceJustice @YorksResists @JUSTWYorkshire

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