Addressing Migration, Climate Change, and Homelessness through Collaborative Efforts
Exploring the intertwined issues of migration, climate change, and homelessness, this content highlights the urgent need for collective action and systemic change. It discusses the challenges faced by refugees and asylum seekers, the impact of climate-induced migration, and the growing concern of homelessness within the general population. Emphasizing collaboration, compassion, and reframing narratives, it calls for a shift towards proactive strategies to address these complex societal issues effectively.
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Theres always something you can do: Migration, climate change and homelessness Avril Bellinger BPS session on Psychology, Homelessness and Climate Change 26.9.23
Students and Refugees Together (START) https://www.studentsandrefugeestogether.com/wp/ 22-year-old NGO in Plymouth founded on the strengths approach with the dual purpose of benefiting refugees and students. (Bellinger and Ford, 2021) https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/the- strengths-approach-in-practice Impact over 20 years 270 professionals qualified (international and UK) 3,000 refugee households accessed entitlements In excess of 1million from Trusts and Foundations for the city Collaborations Business administration, Occupational therapy, Social work. Youth and Community work, Global Health/Medicine, Clinical Psychology, Dentistry, Social Geography, NIHR, Civil service, Social investors.
Current situation Government commitment no use of hotels for refugees by Christmas: Refit of barges (Bibi Stockholm), deporting people offshore (Rwanda), use of army barracks (Napier, Penally), granting people leave to remain (LTR). Plymouth has around 300 asylum spaces People granted LTR normally have 28 days to vacate accommodation and access an income. START works to avoid homelessness and destitution. Referrals have now trebled, some people have as little as 7 days notice and other documents have not kept pace. Local authority is being passed the financial burden without additional resources. Homelessness in the general population is growing and the lack of move-on accommodation means the system is blocked
This is not a temporary problem Primacy of money above wellbeing Property as investment rather than shelter Climate emergency Displacement Narratives about migration
The report Groundswell: Acting on Internal Climate Migration projects that climate change could drive 216 million people to migrate within their own countries by 2050.
What can we do? Acknowledge the systemic nature of our situation Collaborate: With people themselves With colleagues in the organization With other organisations Share information and strategize Be pragmatic Emphasise compassion not empathy Reframe the narrative to allow for hope.
References Bellinger, A and Ford, D. (2023) Solution or Problem: A Social Work View of UK Forced Migration Law and Policy, Vectors of Social Sciences, National University of Georgia, Tbilisi. Bellinger, A and Ford, D. (2022) The Strengths Approach in Practice: How it changes lives. Bristol, Policy Press. Bruder, J (2017) Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century, WW Norton and Co. Davies, C. (2019) Homesick or Why I Live in a Shed, Riverrun Holmyard, Lucy et al. (2022). Growing together: displaced women s resilience and growth in reciprocal relationship, Families, Relationships and Societies, Bristol, Policy Press Maloney, C., Nelki, J. and Summers, A. (Eds) (2022) Seeking Asylum and Mental Health: A practical guide for professionals, Cambridge University Press Naess,A.(1973) Theshallowandthedeep,long-rangeecology movement: A summary , Inquiry, 16(1 4): 95 100. Raworth, K., 2017. Doughnut economics: seven ways to think like a 21st-century economist. Chelsea Green Publishing. The Big Issue, (2023) The Future of Housing, Issue 1581, 11th September. https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2021/12/16/2021-the-year-in-climate-in-5- numbers
