Far From Home – Asylum Seeker housing report

Far From Home – Asylum Seeker housing report

For Shelter, the UK’s leading homelessness charity, I led media work on one of the agency’s most controversial and successful campaigns.

Far From Home shed light on the appalling and often dangerous conditions endured by asylum seekers living in private rented accommodation. Shelter found that unscrupulous landlords were taking advantage of this vulnerable group and placing lives at risk.

Shelter blew the whistle by engaging sympathetic MPs and the media to create a stir in the British community.

The campaign was a huge success, created nationwide media coverage, and, most importantly, effected government policy on housing asylum seekers. A highlight was watching Jack Straw (then British Home Secretary) wave Shelter’s Far From Home report in parliament demanding action be taken.