Slough Borough Council

What is an asylum seeker?

An asylum seeker is someone who is fleeing persecution in their homeland, has arrived in another country, made themselves known to the authorities and exercised the legal right to apply for asylum.

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I am an asylum seeker. What housing am I entitled to from the council?

As an asylum seeker you can apply for housing support and your eligibility will be assessed accordingly.

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I am an asylum seeker, what general help is available to me?

There is a wide range of help available to you. Please contact:

Slough Refuge Support Group on 01753 537142. They are located at 28 Bath Road at Slough.

Berkshire Somalia Group on 01753 576577. They are located at 10a Ledgers Road, Slough, SL1 2QX.

Refuge Arrivals Project on 0208 759 5740. They are located at First Floor Queens, Building Heathrow Airport, Hounslow TW6 IDL.

Immigration Advisory Service on 0207 3577511. They are located at Unit 3 Ebury Business Centre, 161/163 Staines Rd, Middlesex, TW3 3JB.

To apply for accommodation and substance support please contact Refugee Arrivals project. They will help you contacting National Asylum Seekers Support (NASS) and provide you with accommodation. This means however that you might be dispersed to another part of the country where the support will be provided.

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What rights and subsistence do asylum seekers get from the government?

Asylum seekers are not allowed to work. They are forced to rely on state support, which is at 30% below the normal level of income support. They do not jump the queue for council housing and they cannot choose where they live. The accommodation allocated to them is not paid for by the local council. It is nearly always 'hard to let' properties, which other people do not want to live in.

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