The UK government has published guidance on new immigration rules, which make rough sleeping grounds for enforced removal- regardless of whether they’re living in the UK legally. Together with over 60 organisations, The Connection is urging the Government to scrap these new rules immediately.

The Connection urges the UK government and local authorities to retain their focus on supporting people out of homelessness. There is an urgent need for a clear, national strategy to end rough sleeping and homelessness for all.

“The Connection at St Martin’s provides specialist immigration advice and casework to our clients and is registered with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC). The Connection is opposed to the regulations which give the Secretary of State the power to refuse or withdraw status from and remove non-UK nationals who are rough sleeping. Our staff will not supply details of our advice and casework with our clients to the government and other statutory bodies without explicit consent and where we believe it is in our clients’ best interests to do so”

The full statement by Crisis is here

“We are gravely concerned about the impact of these changes. This policy is inhumane and will make non-UK nationals fearful of asking for support to get off the streets.”