REFLECTIONS It was clear that there is no one face of statelessness in the UK. Interviewees were stateless for different reasons, such as being stateless from birth or having no ability to prove their identity due to lost identification documentation. They also found themselves in the UK for different reasons and a few did not initially have any intention of staying in the country long-term. It was striking that many interviewees had been searching for so long for some kind of a solution. Nine had been in the UK for over 10 years with no leave to remain. They had mostly arrived before the existence of the SDP and therefore had been living in limbo, either in the asylum system or without any documentation. One interviewee had been in the UK for 11 years with no resolution to his situation. According to the interviewee, the Home Office had significant 20 20 Recognised Stateless Person who spent over a decade in limbo, photographed in London during lockdown. © UNHCR/Katie Barlow. correspondence with his country of origin and the interviewee wanted to go back home but his country of origin would not accept him. He has truly been in limbo for most of his adult life and has been living in Section 4 accommodation on roughly 5GBP a day for this entire time. Those who had been refused asylum, and were living without any documentation or with minimal support, were at particular risk. One interviewee had met a man when he was 25 years old and worked in his house for seven years. He stated he was rarely allowed to leave the home. Another noted that he was constantly at the mercy of others who were aware that he had no status and therefore tried to take advantage of him. He often had no choice but to do what he was told, out of fear. This highlights that many who are living undocumented and unable to prove their status can have serious protection concerns and may be living in dangerous

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