Ashraf Ahmed (23) was recognised as a refugee in mid-2020 but remains stuck in accommodation meant for asylum seekers. He is one of 3,676 former asylum seekers who cannot find housing, and are desperate to “move on and live a life”.
Ahmed, from Tanzania, he has been in Ireland since 2018. Having been moved around several reception and direct provision centres in his first year, he was placed in large direct provision centre on the outskirts of Athlone, Co Westmeath, in 2019. It comprises more than 100 mobile homes along with an “administration block” housing a canteen, laundry, community welfare office, recreation area and offices, and a medical centre.
“It is very isolated,” says Ahmed. “I share a caravan, the kitchen and toilet with my roommate. It is okay.
“When I got the letter from the Minister [for Justice] telling me I had refugee status, I was so happy. I thought, ‘I don’t want to stay here too long. I want to move on with my life’. I applied for the GNIB [Garda National Immigration Bureau] ID card.
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“Covid was on a high level so I had to wait, couldn’t do anything about getting accommodation yet.” He applied for and was approved for the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and began looking for accommodation in early 2021.
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“At that time I was not working. The landlords were all asking if I was working. I was viewing houses and viewing houses ... I think also, they don’t reply to me if they hear I am living in the centre.”
Security guard
When he looked for work locally he was offered only part-time. “I want full-time job to have enough money to pay rent. I will have to pay electricity and other bills.”
Having discussed his situation with Depaul accommodation adviser, he applied for work in Dublin and transferred his HAP application. He secured a full-time position as a security guard, working six days a week.
Securing housing in the capital has proved more difficult, however. “I am just having the same experience. I’m viewing the house and the people tell me: ‘Okay, just send me your reference and your work details’, and then I hear nothing.
“I am applying for houses, applying for houses and most of the time they don’t even reply. I am happy in the job. The only thing is that I can’t find accommodation. Even if it was in Kildare it would be better, nearer to my job.
“I get a bus and it costs €20 every time, so I can’t save anything. I was working six days, but after seven months I told my boss, ‘I can’t work six days. I can only work three’ — because I was getting the bus at 6.30am and finish the job at 6pm, or 7pm or 8pm and get home about 11pm. I was always tired and had no time to do anything.
“I am so happy to be in Ireland and appreciate Irish people for all they have done for me, but I am not happy living in the centre. I am so depressed and sad about life. I just want to move on and live a life.”
