24    Can’t Stay. Can’t Go. Refused asylum seekers who cannot be returned Joshua (Ethiopia), who is street homeless, reported that he has no friends, but that is out of choice: I don’t want to be friend with homeless people. This country, people sleeping in the street are drug people. I don’t make friendships with anyone; I don’t know who is good or bad. (Joshua, Ethiopia) Three of our refused asylum seekers reported that their support network consists of people who are in the same situation as them: Well, the people I associate with they are asylum seekers as well. So, yes, they’re in the same position usually. (Kayla, Zimbabwe) and practically. I don’t have anything to give. (Faheem, Palestine) Samir (Algeria) reported: “I don’t have too many friends here”. His girlfriend is his emotional support. Walid (Algeria) said: “I have some people I can talk to.” Walid has some friends at West End Refugee Service and another friend who is a teacher. 3.9 Personal safety Three of our refused asylum seekers reported that they do not feel safe when sleeping rough. All the Red Cross staff members we spoke to worry about the safety of those in this group who live on the streets: They tend to talk about the situation they are in: Yes, we talk to each other. But we don’t get any solution. (Bisrat, Eritrea) Kasim (Iraq) and Violet (Zimbabwe) make friends through their volunteering work. Kasim volunteers at his local Red Cross and at Justice First. He spoke about working in the Justice First office: When these people come in here [Justice First], everyone be like “Hi, how are you Kasim? How are you Kasim?” Everyone shake hand, yeah, and they smile. (Kasim, Iraq) Besides the friends she makes through volunteering at the Leicester Red Cross and the Salvation Army, Violet (Zimbabwe) is involved in the Zimbabwe Association, an independent, charitable organisation that works with asylum seekers in the UK. They meet fortnightly and talk about the current situation in Zimbabwe and in the UK. “We socialise, eat, talk” (Violet, Zimbabwe). Violet is also involved in the Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe group, which meets monthly. Enaya (Palestine) and Faheem (Palestine) both find it difficult to talk to other people: I know a few people, but I am not telling them like how I feel. (Faheem, Palestine) Faheem (Palestine) also feels he has nothing to bring to a friendship: I don’t want a lot of friends. I’m homeless. People want something from you mentally People often stay in places that aren’t safe, abandoned buildings and things like that, which are cold, damp. There’s no security. Dangerous access. So, yes, I think there’s a myriad of different health and safety concerns surrounding people. (Red Cross staff member, Birmingham) The staff members in Glasgow mentioned that those who are destitute and street homeless are vulnerable to physical abuse (Red Cross staff member, Glasgow 1 and 2) and racial abuse (Red Cross staff member, Glasgow 1). To avoid being homeless, people sometimes resort to “paying for accommodation in other ways, which can include sex and all these other things that sound like domestic servitude” (Red Cross staff member, Glasgow 1). One of the Glasgow Red Cross staff members worries particularly about her female clients. Some of them have resorted to prostitution and have ended up in A&E “beaten and abused” (Red Cross staff member, Glasgow 2): It’s just because these people are desperate to make some money. I think it’s that thing of, eventually, people get tired of helping you. And eventually you become a burden to them. Yes, I think there is a risk of exploitation. I think it’s worse, obviously, for female clients…. I think the understanding is that a female client is more at risk of prostitution, exploitation through that. If she’s street homeless or she’s having to rely on people, there’s a chance she might get into a bad relationship or become dependent on someone – or, through