George Campbell, a 69-year-old man who travelled to the UK from Jamaica as a nine-year-old child and has resided here ever since, has endured months of homelessness and destitution after Home Office inaction left him without proof of his legal right to live in Britain. His case highlights ongoing weaknesses in systems designed to assist those affected by the Windrush scandal, even seven years after the government apologised for the errors that wrongly categorised thousands as illegal immigrants.
From Hospital to Bus Shelter: A Descent into Destitution
After being discharged from a hospital stay last year, where he fell into a coma due to undiagnosed diabetes, Campbell found himself with nowhere to go. His girlfriend felt unable to care for him in their shared flat, leading him to spend a week in a hotel before running out of money. He then resorted to sleeping in a bus station in Walthamstow, east London, and visiting food banks to survive.
Council officials classified him as ineligible for state-funded homelessness support because he lacked paperwork proving his legal status in the UK. This occurred despite Campbell having lived and worked in Britain for over six decades, paying taxes throughout his adult life in roles ranging from painter and decorator to minicab driver and builder.
Delays and Bureaucratic Hurdles
Although the Home Office's Windrush team was alerted to the urgency of his situation in early October, it took months for officials to accept that he was living in the UK legally and grant him the indefinite leave to remain to which he was entitled. During this time, Campbell relied on the kindness of strangers and charities, washing in shopping centre toilets and asking for food vouchers at the library.
He expressed his frustration, stating, "It's hard to understand why it is taking so long to sort out. I was schooled here, my children and grandchildren grew up here, my great-granddaughter is here. I'm part of this country." His application for a state pension has also been rejected, adding to his financial woes.
A Lifetime of Fear and Hesitation
Campbell arrived in Britain in the mid-1960s to join his mother, who worked as a nurse in a London hospital. As an adult, he never applied for a passport because he never travelled abroad, which contributed to his lack of documentation. He has always been hesitant to seek help from authorities, recalling a 1988 incident when he was told he needed to register with the Home Office for housing assistance, which instilled a fear of deportation.
"That put the frighteners on me," he said, aware that friends' parents had been deported due to paperwork irregularities. This fear persisted even as he followed news of the Windrush scandal in 2017, which led to the resignation of then Home Secretary Amber Rudd.
Community Support and Political Intervention
Several individuals and charities stepped in to assist Campbell, including a council worker named Juanita in Walthamstow library, who helped him obtain food vouchers. He also approached Stella Creasy, the MP for Walthamstow, who has worked to expedite his case but noted the prolonged process. Creasy warned that upcoming changes to the immigration system could push more people into similar limbo, urging caution to avoid another Windrush-style crisis.
Campbell is now housed in the Forest Night Shelter, supported by charities, but he remains insecure, stating, "I don't feel secure. I'm not living under my own roof." The Refugee and Migrant Forum of Essex and London (Ramfel) helped him apply for British citizenship under the Windrush scheme, though it has not yet been granted.
Calls for Reform and Accountability
Alice Giuliato, head of services at Ramfel, criticised the situation as an example of the "hostile environment" in action, where individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds face harm due to perceived lack of immigration status. Campaigners are lobbying for a public inquiry into ongoing Windrush-related issues, with an independent people's inquiry in early stages.
The Rev Clive Foster, the Windrush Commissioner, emphasised that vulnerable and older applicants should be prioritised, saying, "When someone has lived here for six decades and is sleeping in a night shelter, their case should not take months to resolve." A Home Office spokesperson stated they are in touch with Campbell's representative to resolve his living situation, while Waltham Forest council is now working on housing options following his granted immigration status.
