The housing pathways of Somali new immigrants in Sheffield

Aims

The report is part of a Joseph Rowntree Foundation funded project to explore the housing experiences of new immigrations during the first five years of settlement in the UK.

Methodology

In depth qualitative interviews were undertaken with 39 new immigrants, including nine Somali people – three women and six men, aged between 19 and 42 years old. All had arrived in the UK as asylum seekers; eight had been given leave to remain in the UK.

Key issues

The package of rights and opportunities associated with being an asylum seeker was an important determinant of arrival experiences. Most Somali new immigrants were directed to Sheffield by the NASS dispersal programme. All of those who took part had decided to remain in Sheffield. They followed a far longer and more complicated pathway into permanent accommodation than the other new immigrants interviewed, largely due to the limitations of being an asylum seeker. Poor housing situations, the importance of place and affiliation, and the challenges of engaging with the housing system are outlined.