A man says he “finally has his freedom back” after several months of advocacy to ensure he has a safe place to live in an area of his choosing.
Henrik* recently moved into his own flat in a city where he has a strong support network. It follows eight months of successful advocacy from Hope for Justice, working alongside a housing solicitor to challenge the city council’s decision to refuse Henrik accommodation.
He told us: “It was the best feeling coming back to the place that I’ve known as home.”
One of the main reasons why Henrik feels at home in this area is because his friends live close by and can visit and support him. He said: “When I’m struggling, they know how to support me the best. This makes me feel safe with them and they help me to see positive things about myself. I might not always be in a good mood, but being with friends gives me a reason to live.”
When the Home Office temporarily moved Henrik into asylum support accommodation in the West Midlands, Henrik was isolated and had to rebuild his support structures. He felt that “everything was taken away, including things that had been put in place to support me”.
During this time of uncertainty, Henrik’s Independent Modern Slavery Advocate (IMSA) at Hope for Justice was always there to help.
Stock image, does not show this specific case.
Henrik said: “Having an IMSA gave me a way to off-load things that were too much to carry. My IMSA checked in regularly, including coming to visit me, which helped me get through this time.”
Practically, our advocacy involved completing paperwork, making phone calls, liaising with professionals, helping the survivor understand what was happening, ensuring he was moving to a place where he would feel safe, and making sure his support needs were met. The IMSA also made referrals to a mental health team, though this aspect of Henrik’s support network is still to be rebuilt.
Together, the IMSA and survivor have sourced some essentials and home furnishings for the flat from a charity, as well as successfully applying for a grant towards the cost of some new flooring.
Stock image, does not show this specific case.
Thanks to this joint work, Henrik is now able to enjoy going for walks, watching films, and attending choir concerts with friends again. He is hoping to re-join the choir in the future. He will also return to college in September and is considering further study at university.
He said: “Having an IMSA is the best support I have received for a long time. Having someone in your corner advocating for and supporting you makes a difference. Hope for Justice brought a lot of hope. Having someone understand and work with survivors is very needed when manoeuvring the system – not just the challenges but the good too, such as helping you to understand what you want to do and can do.”
You can read more about our advocacy for Henrik here: Trafficking survivor wins legal battle against city council
*Name and image changed to protect identity of the survivor
