What is it Like in a Bridging Hotel?

For many refugees, fleeing their homelands is merely the first hurdle they have to overcome. Having uprooted their lives, they now face the challenge of assimilating into their new communities. This includes finding housing, being employed or continuing education, registering for various services and learning the language of the host country. In addition, many refugees need help recovering from the trauma they have suffered. 

Imagine you are dropped in a new country. Everywhere around you, people chatter in a foreign tongue as incomprehensible as static. You don’t know where you are, where you’re going – and besides, you have nothing. On your back, you have only your clothes. In your arms, your child grows limp with exhaustion from the arduous journey, by plane or by boat: you hold on tighter. In your chest, you suppress a storm of emotions: bittersweet nostalgia for a home now marred by shootings, whippings, executions; fear for the family and friends who could not flee; both hope and trepidation for what the future holds.

For many refugees, fleeing their homelands is merely the first hurdle they have to overcome. Having uprooted their lives, they now face the challenge of assimilating into their new communities. This includes finding housing, being employed or continuing education, registering for various services and learning the language of the host country. In addition, many refugees need help recovering from the trauma they have suffered. 

This is where Paiwand steps in. One way that they help is by supporting Afghan refugees in all aspects of their integration into UK society at bridging hotels. According to the UK government, “bridging accommodation” refers to temporary accommodation that the Home Office has acquired for people who left Afghanistan due to the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021. In other words, they are places for Afghan refugees to stay before they have found permanent residences to move into. 

I had the privilege of visiting a bridging hotel where Paiwand operates and interviewing Ms Palwasha Latif, an advocacy officer at Paiwand who is in charge of helping the refugees at the hotel.

The hotel is tucked into a peaceful corner in the bustling heart of London. “Today’s a quiet day”, Ms Latif remarks. She says it is because many families have recently moved out, either to other bridging hotels or to permanent residences. A year and a half ago, there were several hundred residents – now, there are only around 70. 

“Everyone is emotional when a family leaves.” On the one hand, it is a cause to celebrate when refugees are able to settle into their own homes. On the other hand, the residents feel bittersweet about parting with the friends they have made. Ms Latif smiles wistfully as she tells me about the laughter shared between the children, whether they are playing games or participating in a weekly homework club organized by another charity. I asked if they would have the chance to see each other again. “I believe they will keep in contact,” Ms Latif responds.

Despite the lull in recent months, Ms Latif’s day is never empty. Just that morning, she helped a family submit applications for their children to schools nearer their permanent home. They were set to move out the following week. “We’re still not sure if the schools will enrol them. But we have to try.”

Afterwards, she helped a man order a taxi to his dental appointment. “He didn’t know how to use the app,” she says. “I also helped him read an email for his appointment.”

Filling out paperwork, using unfamiliar technology, parsing information in a foreign language – these are all things that refugees commonly find difficult. From the moment they approach Paiwand, the non-profit aid them with whatever challenges they face. Paiwand’s services range from helping them find houses, jobs and schools, to registering them with banks, GPs and dental. The organization also gives refugees advice about immigration, organizes youth activities like keyboard sessions and football clubs, and provides support with English language learning and mental health, such as through counselling.

Mental health, in particular, is a sensitive topic among Afghan refugee populations and has to be treated with extra care. For instance, in a survey of 453 Afghan immigrants and refugees in Tehran, 55.6% were found to have mental disorders. Among other factors, mental health problems were often linked to stresses regarding immigration and acculturation, i.e. adapting to another culture. Moreover, the stigma surrounding mental health, such as beliefs that mental health problems are signs of weakness and sources of shame, can make it difficult for refugees to be open about their struggles. “We have a counsellor that comes here every week,” Ms Latif says. Ramzia Akbari is the Senior Mental Health Counsellor and Afghan project Manager at Paiwand. Originally from Afghanistan herself, not only is the counsellor able to overcome linguistic barriers by speaking to the refugees in their native language, but she also has the cultural awareness to navigate the nuances of discussing mental health with Afghan refugees. 

Having heard about the multitude of ways in which Paiwand supports Afghan refugees, I could not help but wonder if there are any hardships faced by refugees that Ms Latif found unexpected when she first started working with them. To this, she says, “When you work with refugees, nothing is surprising.” When one has to start a new life while still being unavoidably attached to their old one, it is understandable how everything can be a challenge. In a way, the bridging hotel is a perfect metaphor for the state of limbo that refugees are suspended in. However, hearing the sincerity and determination with which Ms Latif speaks about her work has shown me how Paiwand has helped to transform the bridging hotel from a liminal space into a home, even if just for a while.

On my way out, I passed by a man and a young boy, presumably a father with his son. The boy was holding a scooter, and they were both smiling. As I walked along the Thames after my visit, seeing similar pairs of parents and children with their scooters and bikes and skateboards, I wondered if any of them were residents at the bridging hotel. It heartened me to see that despite the adversities thrown their way, the refugees at the bridging hotel still carry hope for their futures, and are able to find snippets of happiness in their new lives. 

References
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GOV.UK. (2022, December 12). Bridging accommodation closures. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bridging-accommodation-closures/bridging-accommodation-closures#:~:text=Definition%20of%20bridging%20accommodation

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