The Sojourner Project – new national project for women with no recourse to public funds – Eaves
What is the Sojourner Project?
The Sojourner Project is a pilot scheme run by Eaves and funded by the Home Office, and will be operational from Monday 30th November 2009 until the end of February 2010. Eaves will be working in partnership with a range of other voluntary providers to co-ordinate support, accommodation and subsistence for women and their dependents throughout the country.
The Sojourner Project is for women with no recourse to public funds, who entered the UK on a spousal or partner visa and are eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) under the Domestic Violence Rule.
How can I access the Service and what is the Process?
Anyone can make referrals to the Sojourner Project.
Initial referrals can be made by calling the Sojourner Project Duty Worker on 020 7840 7147. Once information on the referral’s suitability has passed initial assessment, the woman will be admitted onto the first stage of the pilot. At this stage the referrer will be asked to complete a formal referral form and e-mail a copy to the Sojourner Project Duty Worker on sojourner@eaveshousing.co.uk
Accommodation and subsistence will be arranged as appropriate in Eaves or alternative accommodation. Eaves can provide or fund accommodation and support while ILR applications are submitted and processed.
The Sojourner Duty Worker will forward the completed referral form to the UK Borders Agency, who will verify the referral’s eligibility to enter the second stage of the pilot.
Once the Sojourner Project Duty Worker has received the eligibility decision, they will inform the support provider and service user. Confirmation of eligibility for the second stage of the pilot will be completed within 5 days.
Please note: referrals will only be eligible to access the pilot if they were previously admitted to, or granted an extension in the UK as a spouse, civil partner, unmarried or same sex partner, and are able to qualify for ILR under the Domestic Violence Rule. You can request a fact sheet on the Domestic Violence Rule from the Sojourner Duty Worker.
If the UK Border Agency determines a referral to be ineligible, they will not be able to access Home Office funding through this scheme.
If the UK Border Agency determines a referral to be eligible, the woman can remain in funded accommodation for the next stage of the project. This stage lasts 4 weeks, during which it is necessary for the service user to receive independent legal advice from a qualified person and to submit an application for Indefinite Leave to Remain under the Domestic Violence Rule.
Once an Indefinite Leave to Remain application is received and confirmed by the UK Border Agency the support provider will be will be eligible to a maximum of 4 weeks funding, whilst waiting for a decision from the UK Border Agency on the Indefinite Leaves to Remain application.
A woman is only eligible for a maximum of 8 weeks funding under the pilot. Once a decision, whether positive or negative has been made, the funding will cease.
Those who receive positive Indefinite Leave to Remain decisions will have access to public funds.
For negative Indefinite Leave to Remain decisions the support provider will have to make a decision on whether they will be able to continue providing support, and what the resettlement options are.
Eaves will be providing national training on the pilot for potential service providers.
The next training dates are:
* 9th December 09 – London
* 11th December 09 – London
* 15th December 09 – Wales
* 16th December 09 – Sheffield
If you would like to receive training but are unable to attend the training dates or locations listed, please contact sojourner@eaveshousing.co.uk
If you would like a referral pack please contact the Sojourner Duty Worker on sojourner@eaveshousing.co.uk
Thank you for your support.