Mears moves Glasgow Asylum Seekers into hotels without financial support or social distancing in place

The Guardian newspaper (22.4.20) reported that more than 300 men and women seeking asylum in Glasgow have been moved over the past ten days into city centre hotels by the private housing provider Mears, which is subcontracted by the Home Office. With all their financial support withdrawn as meals are provided, people cannot top up their phones to keep contact with Lawyers, Caseworkers and GPs, or buy extra food or hand sanitiser.
This includes young people supported by YCSA who are very frightened and not being able to practice social distancing within the hotel, and for those who are Muslims, with Ramadhan fasting approaching and no access to any funds, lack of suitable food to open the fast after sunset, and before sunrise.
YCSA is raising our concerns with a range of politicians at UK, Scottish and Glasgow levels to see if this situation can be addressed before people become ill from COVID-19. We call on the Home Office to reinstate cash support and Mears to urgently review the measures currently in place to ensure the health and safety of us all during this Lockdown.

Glasgow asylum seekers’ lives put at risk as Home Office cuts financial support and Mears puts people into hotels without social distancing in place