Bringing hope to destitute asylum seekers:

Sr Catherine with guests at her Birmingham home

‘Miriam’ was housed with Sr Catherine O’Neill in Birmingham, in conjunction with the charity ‘Hope Projects’ -  which assists homeless asylum seekers. This is her story:

Miriam came from India to Britain with a visa as a domestic worker to work for a family with high profile connections back in India. She was badly exploited and abused by her employers who controlled her and allowed her visa to expire. She therefore became an irregular migrant, in fear of deportation. Her employers exploited this further, making her work without pay or breaks. They threatened her and her family if she tried to escape. Her mental state was by now very fragile.
 
Miriam eventually escaped and went to the police. She was treated as a potential victim of modern slavery and housed  - but the Home Office and then the courts did not believe her story. She was refused protection and made street homeless.
 
Miriam lived for 18 months at Coventry Peace House – emergency accommodation which provides ‘nightshelter’ type accommodation and food but no money. The Peace House can be a lifeline for a short time, but it is not designed as a long-term home:
 
“You had to leave every day at 8.30 am and go back at 8.30pm. I was very desperate and spent hours walking or sitting at the bus stop crying. During the winter was the worst it was so cold and I was scared in the dark. I wanted to kill myself.”
 
Eventually, with help from the British Red Cross, Miriam was housed by Hope:
 
“I can’t explain - I was so happy to have somewhere to live. So very, very happy. Life was made better little by little…”
 
With help from Hope, Miriam’s legal case was reopened. It commissioned expert reports to corroborate parts of her story which were true but which, without evidence, had not been believed by the authorities.
 
Miriam moved within Hope to live in a house where she was supported by Sr Catherine who lived next door.
 
“It was so good – Sr Catherine gave me so much hope! Having money to buy food was so good, I could cook and look after myself… I was supported and I made friends. I remember days out especially the seaside and the Christmas party… I had brilliant support from Sister Catherine and others. Hope has given me my life back, I just can’t explain what Hope did for me.”
 
In June 2021 Miriam was finally granted leave to remain in the UK
 
(Miriam’s name has been changed to preserve her privacy)