Refugee Support

The Refugee Floating Support Service was set up in July 2001 in partnership with Southampton City Council’s City Asylum Seekers Team. In 2000 Southampton was identified as a dispersal area for 500 asylum seekers and Southampton City Council signed a contract with the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) to provide accommodation and support for asylum seekers whilst they were waiting for the outcome of their asylum applications.

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AHL has seven houses in the Southampton area, providing 33 rooms with shared facilities. Referrals are accepted from Southampton City Council, Refugee Action, CLEAR, the Neighbourhood Advice Centre and we also accept self-referrals. The main criteria for accessing this service is that the applicant should provide evidence of a letter from the Home Office granting either Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), Exceptional Leave to Remain (ELR), Humanitarian Protection (HP) or Discretionary Leave (DL) dated within the last 2 years.

The accommodation and support is provided on a temporary basis for up 2 years, with each client receiving approximately 2 hours support per week. Each client completes a support plan with staff and this is regularly reviewed. Support and assistance is provided to the client to enable and achieve independence and successful integration into the community.

Some examples of support provided are:

  • assistance with obtaining a national insurance number
  • claiming welfare benefits
  • guidance on training
  • employment and education
  • registering with GP's and dentists
  • applying for travel documents
  • assisting with appeals
  • applying for driving licences
  • opening bank accounts
  • developing life skills and resettlement activities.

For further information on this service or you would like a referral form please contact Balbinder Rai, Refugee Floating Support Worker, Atlantic Housing Limited on 023 8068 4363 (office), 07909 873990 (mobile) or at balbinder.rai@atlantichousing.co.uk.