Migrants Face Mounting Challenges as a Result of the Cost-of-Living Crisis in Sussex
DRI has been part of the Community Participatory Action Research (CPAR) Cohort 2 conducting research that investigated the impact on migrants, refugees and asylum seekers of the Cost-of-Living Crisis in Sussex.
Names in this blog have been changed to protect participants’ privacy.
After living in the UK for 7 years, Linh’s dream of establishing herself in this country was shattered when new migration policies forced her to return to her parents’ home in Vietnam.
“It is a shame because I was hoping to be a UK citizen […] I have sacrificed meeting my family to meet the requirements for citizenship. We are like good citizens, we pay taxes, we work and contribute to the economy” expresses Linh, who studied and worked in the UK for several years, hoping to give her skills back to a country that welcomed her and which she considers her home.
Linh was one of the participants in the CPAR Project conducted by Diversity Resource International (DRI) C.I.C.
DRI co-developed this research project with community members, gaining a deeper understanding of their everyday challenges during the Cost-of-Living crisis in Sussex, and creating a safe space for people to share their experiences openly. DRI gathered information through surveys and face-to-face interviews between December 2023 and February 2024.
Thandiwe, one of the interviewees, moved to the UK on a spousal visa and is currently struggling to make a living while seven months pregnant. She shares:
“When I went to the job centre, they said ‘you don’t have access to public funds, so we can’t do anything for you’ […] Some employers have not hired me because my visa is only for one and a half years and they don’t know if they can sponsor [me] after”
All participants in the study shared a common desire: to work and contribute to the UK’s economy. Ali, an asylum seeker from Southeast England, highlighted his dilemma commenting that the most important thing in his life currently would be ‘to find a job and provide for himself’.
The Housing Crisis
Mei, an Eastbourne resident, rents a decaying Victorian house without central heating. Despite living there for a decade, the council has ignored her pleas for help.
“I can’t afford the excess payments nowadays. […] I would love to improve this area of my life as it’s not about me but also my children”
Migrants in the UK face significant hurdles when it comes to housing. Language barriers, job insecurity, and soaring costs make it increasingly difficult to access safe and comfortable housing.
Fatemeh faces a particularly challenging situation, sharing a single room with her husband, and their teenage daughter in a council-provided loft with a small kitchen.
“I feel like I am stuck between the two of them. None of us has any privacy and no space. How can a husband and wife live in the same room as their teenage daughter? It’s not healthy to have all of us in one room”
The Impacts on Mental Health
The research revealed a strong link between trauma, past experiences, and current living conditions on the mental health of migrants and asylum seekers in the UK.
Mei described her lifelong struggle with mental health, exacerbated by past trauma.
“I separated from my ex 10 years ago, but I still have PTSD and nightmares because of the psychological violence”
Accessing mental health support proved challenging for many participants. Individuals who are displaced from their home country due to conflict are forced to deprioritise their mental health. Aisha stated:
“In Syria, I was under pressure from the war, so I had to do just what I had to do. Mental health wasn’t something I dealt with at that time”
Upon arriving in the UK, she decided to address the scars of traumatic experiences from her home country and seek mental health support. However, her expectations were far from reality:
“I try to go to the services here, but they aren’t great. I was looking to help myself and looking online and reading some papers, but when I saw someone and talked about my concerns, they just gave me the same papers to read”
The research also highlighted the unique challenges faced by men in accessing and becoming aware of mental health support.
One of the most powerful comments came from Ali, who responded:
“As we are single males, we don’t really talk with each other, and it’s shown as a sign of weakness. I know that other people have [mental health issues] but won’t admit [it]”
Ali also revealed that he was unaware of any mental health support services in the UK. He used to interact with other asylum seekers in the hotel where he was staying; however, after the Cost-of-Living crisis, they have only been provided with increasingly smaller places, where they cannot access any spaces to socialise, dine together, read or sit in a communal area.
This enforced isolation and lack of social interaction make life increasingly difficult for the residents, highlighting the urgent need for community support.
Social and Physical Activities as a Coping Strategy for Migrants
Many participants expressed a strong desire for increased social and physical activities to cope with their challenges. They believed that these activities could alleviate loneliness and improve overall wellbeing.
Young participants, Ali and Aisha, both highlighted the importance of physical activity but cited financial constraints as a barrier to accessing gyms. They also expressed a longing for increased social interaction, such as dining out or making new friends, but financial limitations prevent them from engaging in these activities.
For Aisha, maintaining connections with family in war-torn Syria is a priority. The distance and her family’s safety concerns contribute to feelings of isolation. She described a noticeable decline in her social activity level since moving to the UK. She expressed:
“Even my family saw this when I met them recently. They’ve seen how I’ve changed into a quiet person”
The Need for Some Change
Beyond economic hardships, the study reveals a pressing need for mental health support, access to social and physical activities, and opportunities for integration. As the cost-of-living crisis in Sussex deepens, policymakers and local organisations should address the specific needs of these vulnerable populations to ensure their well-being and successful integration into British society.
To explore more findings and recommendations, please access the full research report.