Windrush scandal sufferer who turned homeless says compensation struggle ‘hell’
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London father who ended up homeless as a result of he couldn’t show his proper to work within the UK has described his prolonged expertise with the Windrush compensation scheme as “worse than hell”.
Fitzroy Maynard , who lives in Hackney, stated he had been unable to get work for round a decade after dropping his job as a residential caretaker in 2007.
Having come from Antigua as a toddler in 1980 and later labored within the UK for years, he discovered himself sofa-surfing after being unable to show to potential employers that he had the fitting to work within the UK as he lacked the related documentation.
Becoming tearful as he recalled his determined state of affairs, the 57-year-old stated: “It’s been worse than hell. Just imagine you have no money, you have no food, you have nowhere to sleep, you’re freezing, you’re in the same clothes for weeks, you don’t know what’s going to happen.”
He stated he had been provided some compensation by the Home Office however none to cowl his lack of entry to employment “because they can’t see a reason why it was their fault”.
He stated: “I’m not claiming for losing my job, I’m claiming for loss of access to employment after I lost my job. They really think either people can’t read or we are stupid. I’m fed up with the behaviour because they know exactly what they’re doing.”
He stated he’s decided to struggle for what he’s entitled to and insisted anybody utilizing the scheme wants the assist of a authorized skilled.
He stated: “They keep on saying people do not need a lawyer to do this (but) people need a lawyer.”
Mr Maynard. who now works as a part-time handyman whereas he’s a full-time carer for his eight-year-old daughter, stated he feels celebrations being held this yr to mark the Windrush seventy fifth anniversary are solely taking place due to the “misery” that has been brought on to individuals”.
He said: “This celebration has solely come due to distress to individuals. They (the Government) are solely beginning to recognise it as a result of they’ve performed numerous unhealthy and so they’re making an attempt to make it proper.”
Human rights charity Praxis, which has helped Mr Maynard and others, said the compensation scheme “solely provides severe insult to severe harm” for victims of the scandal, and called on it to be made independent from the Home Office.
Praxis chief executive Sally Daghlian said: “Perhaps unsurprisingly, the division that shredded hundreds of lives is now failing at compensating its victims for the hardship they needed to endure.
“The compensation scheme should be removed from the hands of the Home Office and managed by an independent body working closely with the communities affected, providing a simplified and speedy process with expert, independent representation available for claimants.”
Lawyer Jacqueline McKenzie, who has helped individuals declare compensation by the scheme, stated “people don’t have faith in the system” on account of their poor experiences with the Home Office.
She stated: “They’re saying ‘we’re being re-traumatised, the process of actually making a claim is re-traumatising us’.”
The Home Office stated it continues to hear and reply to suggestions to make sure the scheme is working successfully for all.
A spokesperson stated: “We continue to make improvements so people receive the maximum award as quickly as possible.
“This contains establishing a overview course of for these dissatisfied with their compensation provide.
“However, we know there is more to do, and will work tirelessly to make sure such an injustice is never repeated.”