Cash will help those under the threat of eviction

Emergency funding has been announced to help asylum seekers facing eviction in Glasgow.

The Scottish government has made £110,000 available to provide support until all legal battles have been fought.

Funds will go to the Scottish Refugee Council (SRC), the Refugee Survival Trust and the British Red Cross under the umbrella of the Destitute Asylum Seeker Service (DASS). It assists refused asylum seekers who have exhausted their appeal rights to find a route out of destitution and resolve their situation.

Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said: "While we welcome the pause in the issue of lock change notices, this is only a temporary measure, and the fact remains that destitution and homelessness are built into the current asylum system - placing hundreds of people at risk.

"The plight of people threatened with eviction demands a resolute and humanitarian approach and we cannot see people turned on to the streets because of the failure of the Home Office's asylum policy.

"We all have a moral duty to do what we can to help those most in need and this additional funding, while a short term solution, will provide urgent assistance needed."

Sabir Zazai, chief executive of the SRC, said: "The last few weeks have shown just how desperately we need a safety net for people at risk of homelessness and destitution.

"Our asylum advisers provide intensive support and advocacy for people at a critical moment in their lives, when their claim for refugee protection is refused and they face destitution on the streets of Glasgow.

"People often find themselves in this situation through no fault of their own."

Home office housing provider Serco announced it would change the locks on asylum seekers’ properties who had been told to leave the country.

About a third have been granted leave to remain while the remainder have been refused refugee status.

Serco provides accommodation for about 5,000 people in Scotland, almost all of them in Glasgow.