Advice: What advice and support is there for migrants from central and Eastern Europe?

People from the 10 central and Eastern European countries that have joined the European Union (Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia, Bulgaria and Romania - known as EU10 countries) can come to the UK to work, but have limited access to social provisions and welfare benefits. For those who have problems with accommodation or end up homeless, it is important to get advice and support as soon as possible, especially as the regulations governing EU10 nationals are complex and accommodation options can be very limited.

Getting help

To find out more look at:

• Housing Rights website
• Migrant Gateway
• East European Advice Centre
• Medecins du Monde UK - Project:London
• Praxis Community Projects
• UR4Jobs website is a specialist service that supports migrant workers and people from the new accession countries of Central and Eastern Europe.
• Day centres, including Broadway Centre the Manna Centre and Greenhouse Walk-in Centre and Salvation Army - Rochester Row who either have specialist services for economic migrants or have workers who are East European specialists.

More information

These websites give further information on the options available to Central and Eastern European nationals:

• Shelter's website and specifically Shelter's EU and EEA Nationals page
• Homeless Link's Central and Eastern Europeans page provides information and resources for agencies and local authorities working with Central and Eastern European clients.
• Routes Home website has been developed by Thamesreach as a practical guide for outreach staff and others involved in reconnecting Central and Eastern Europeans sleeping rough back to their home country. It aims to increase the options for reconnections and support staff to make appropriate referrals to services in the UK and CEE countries.