For many years now HECA has provided advice in the Somali language at the Hayes CAB. The Somali community in Hillingdon is now estimated to be around 5,000 persons, an increase of more than 66% over the previous estimate of 3,000 persons in 1997, and demand for this service is high.
The aims of the Somali project are to provide targeted advice and information to the Somali community in order to improve incomes, increase self-reliance and reduce the poverty and hardship that contribute to ill-health.
The project employs a full-time Somali-Speaking Advice Worker and is funded by the Association of Local Government and the Hillingdon Primary Care Trust. The advice service is provided by appointments on a regular basis throughout the week and is available to Somali-speakers from Hillingdon and neighbouring boroughs.
The picture of our Somali service users has remained remarkably constant. An average of three-quarters is women and our statistics reflect the younger age profile of the community in comparison with the population of Hillingdon as a whole.
Nearly 70% of Somali clients live
in rented accommodation and almost none are owner-occupiers. About a quarter
have no permanent accommodation and are in housing categories that may indicate
either statutory or ‘hidden’ homelessness, such as ‘bed and breakfast’
or ‘staying with relatives/friends’.
The most common enquiries concern
problems with Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance and the Social Fund. Housing
enquiries make up about 11% of enquiries and housing conditions make up 4.4% of
total enquiries (compared with 0.4% for all clients). This is a tenfold
difference and reflects the poorer conditions Somali clients are living in.
The Hayes office monitors several recurring issues brought to its attention by Somali clients. These include various housing issues, mostly concerning Somali tenants put into temporary accommodation in the south of the borough, and access to Community Care Grants from the Social Fund.