Suffolk Refugee Support has no role in deciding where asylum seekers are accommodated. Our experience of supporting people seeking asylum is that community-based accommodation provides the best opportunity for them to have some independence, to build connections and begin to integrate.
People seeking asylum are often living with the effects of conflict, persecution, displacement and separation from family, as well as the anxiety of an uncertain future. For people in this situation, prolonged accommodation in large, isolated settings with limited opportunities to participate in community life can add to stress and isolation.
We recognise that decisions about accommodation need to take account of the needs of local communities as well as those seeking asylum. Wherever people are placed, however, it is essential that they are provided with safe and appropriate accommodation, that their support needs are properly met, and that they have meaningful opportunities to connect with and contribute to the communities around them.
