{"id":170,"date":"2021-03-16T11:28:32","date_gmt":"2021-03-16T11:28:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/enuapplyscience\/?p=170"},"modified":"2021-03-16T11:28:32","modified_gmt":"2021-03-16T11:28:32","slug":"investigating-the-use-of-temporary-accommodation-to-house-asylum-seekers-and-refugees-during-the-covid-19-outbreak","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/enuapplyscience\/2021\/03\/16\/investigating-the-use-of-temporary-accommodation-to-house-asylum-seekers-and-refugees-during-the-covid-19-outbreak\/","title":{"rendered":"Investigating the use of temporary accommodation to house asylum seekers and refugees during the Covid-19 outbreak"},"content":{"rendered":"

A project funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as part of UK Research and Innovation\u2019s (UKRI) rapid response to COVID-19, is to investigate the use of temporary accommodation to house asylum seekers during the Covid-19 outbreak. The Principal Investigator is Dr Taulant Guma, Lecturer in Human Geography at the School of Applied Sciences.<\/p>\n

The re-housing of asylum seekers and refugees into hotels in Glasgow has been a growing social issue throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. There has been mounting concern over the welfare of displaced individuals in the city and numerous reports of crowded living conditions and lack of available healthcare, which is leaving asylum seekers vulnerable to the Coronavirus outbreak and other social issues.<\/p>\n

Recent moves by private sector firms to relocate asylum seekers into \u2018safe environments\u2019 have been widely criticized, particularly for the difficulties in maintaining physical distancing in new crowded, shared spaces thus increasing the risks of exposure to Covid-19.<\/p>\n

Organisations and stakeholders representing asylum seekers have reported the fear and distress that this move has caused for asylum seekers.<\/p>\n

Well-publicized incidents of violence and suicide by asylum seekers and refugees in Glasgow hotels last year have illustrated the added pressures facing private firms who are responsible for their re-housing to implement more protocols to ensure duty of care.<\/p>\n

In addition, this re-housing has also made it difficult for charities to provide support to affected individuals, who are moved often at short notice.<\/p>\n

Statistical analysis has shown that BAME groups have been most affected by the Covid-19 outbreak in recent months. The role of housing vis-\u00e0-vis Covid-related risks is an area that has been identified as requiring attention in the UKRI\u2019s call for research on BAME groups. Asylum seekers living in the UK in particular are one of the most marginalised groups in society, with most living in poverty, experiencing poor health with the pandemic placing them in one of the most at-risk groups.<\/p>\n

The Edinburgh Napier study will adopt a digital ethnographic approach that is co-designed and co-produced with MORE (Migrants Organising for Rights and Empowerment), a grassroots migrant organisation run by people with experiences of asylum seeking, and the deliverables will be co-created with the partner organisation and migrant participants.<\/p>\n

The year-long project will be headed by Dr Taulant Guma and his team includes Dr Gavin Maclean, and Dr Kiril Sharapov from the School of Applied Sciences; Dr Kirsten MacLeod from the School of Arts & Creative Industries; and Yvonne Blake and Robert Makutsa from MORE<\/p>\n

The team will produce a social impact documentary, which will give a voice to asylum seekers\u2019 experiences of housing during the Covid-19 pandemic in Glasgow.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe film will have impact on several levels \u2013 through its process of production it will provide a space for dialogue and reflection allowing participants and community researchers to articulate and share the problems, issues and concerns they experience in what is an often lonely and hostile environment,\u201d says Dr Guma.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur project will focus on this current and unfolding issue related to the provision of temporary accommodation for asylum seekers during the Covid-19 pandemic. It will examine what the situation is currently on the ground, how the crisis has accentuated the risk for those seeking asylum and develop responses with migrant communities to create a genuinely \u2018safer environment\u2019 for asylum seekers.\u201d<\/p>\n

The team\u2019s key objectives are:<\/p>\n