ORGANISERS of a new project in Oxford are urging people to take in homeless asylum seekers.

The Network of Accommodation for Asylum Seekers, or Namaste, was launched last month to help find homes for some of the 300 asylum seekers in Oxfordshire.

Organiser Miriam Hadcocks, a support worker, said: “There’s a huge number of asylum seekers who need accommodation in Oxfordshire.

“We would like families or groups of people who have spare space to come forward and offer to home someone as their guest.

“Asylum seekers are not entitled to other benefits like council or housing and often their claims take months to be processed.”

Miss Hadcocks said the current system often left vulnerable people with nowhere to go.

There are currently six people who have said they would be interested in the voluntary scheme, but the group is aiming for at least 10.

Miss Hadcocks added: “Everyone will be given training and the asylum seekers will be well-known to us. There will also be very regular reviews.”

The charity would also accept people who only have rooms to offer during term time, or groups who could offer space for a few weeks at a time.

Miss Hadcocks said: “All people need is a spare room for the guest and an empathy with their situation.

“Oxford has hundreds of asylum seekers who haven’t been in their own home for maybe 12 years. But at the same time they are living in a city full of very altruistic people and who, to put it bluntly, have big houses.

“I agree with people who say it shouldn’t come to this and that councils or the Government should sort out the problem, but they aren’t.”

Frank Newman came to Oxford from Sierra Leone five years ago. The 44-year-old was last week granted permission to stay in the UK. He is now staying with a couple who offer room for asylum seekers and has recently passed his exams to become a security guard.

Mr Newman said: “Anybody who could welcome someone into their homes would make such a difference.”

rpope@oxfordmail.co.uk If you are interested in being a host for asylum seekers contact the charity by emailing them at namasteoxford@yahoo.co.uk