The UK’s approach to housing refugees and asylum seekers has shifted dramatically in recent years. Traditionally, long-term private rental housing was preferred, but since 2020, the increase of asylum cases has resulted in increased reliance on temporary and hotel accommodation. As of March 2025, nearly one-third of asylum seekers were in contingency or hotel accommodation - up from just 5% in 2020.​

This temporary housing is not distributed evenly; London and the Southeast now accommodate more asylum seekers than previous years, mainly using hotels. The cost of such housing is significant: between April 2024 and March 2025, the government spent about £5.5 million per day, with hotel accommodation costing roughly six times more than alternative housing types.​ This type of massive accommodation causes lots of problems. Luckily there are initiatives that took a significantly different approach. An organisation called Refugees at Home pairs asylum seekers and Brits with a spare bedroom, which creates a completely new level of hospitality. Amber Bauer - a founder of forRefugees decided on trying out this solution years ago and has been part of the movement and a “mom” to many asylum seekers ever since.

SPECIAL GUEST:

Amber Bauer - forRefugees founder and CEO

Nima Moradi - forRefugees trustee

SUPPORT:

"Fractured" is an original production of ReFOCUS Media Labs citizen journalists. To support this program donate on ⁠https://refocusmedialabs.org/donate

or join us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/refocusmedialabs

PRODUCTION FAMILY:

Host: Sonia Nandzik-Herman

Production Family:

Sude Fazlollah, Eli Fazlollah, Dawoud Nouri, …Citizen Journalists:

Yaser Taheri, Milad Ebrahimi, Yaser Akbari, Naqib Rasuli, Mohammad Ali Alami

Mentorship: Douglas Herman

Producers: Sonia Nandzik-Herman, Douglas Herman

Graphic Design: Eli Fazlollah for designs by Eli go to: ⁠https://refocusmedialabs.org/shop⁠

MUSIC:

Theme- "Intro for Legends" by Bonkers Beat Club (Epidemic Sound)

Additional- "Mogul" by Blue Steel (Epidemic Sound)

SPECIAL THANKS:

To the extended ReFOCUS Family for their dedication, passion and creativity all year long. We’re not where we are today without all the effort from Florian Krauer, Louise Holm, Chryssa Kouroukli, Natalia Tsarenko, Fine Bieler, Tommaso Stingo, Nazanin Foroghi, Yaser Akbari, Dariia Stepanova, Rada Valchanova, Walker Watson, Eleonora Giacomelli, Joseph Murray, Omer Butt, Wojtek Paluch, Matthew Goncalves O’Kelly, Jennifer Perez, Jule Pehnt, Majid Bakhshi, Paul “Al” Simon, Jaime Moro Saavedra, Joëlle Hübscher, Beni Rietmann, Jakob Mayr, Jurek Edel, Francisco Ibanez, Bart Van Son, Federico Bustamente, Myriam Rey, Lotta Luley, Federico Rinaldi, Fatima AlAli, Karina Kozłowska, Grace Neely, Steve Otieno, Mousa Al Zidane, Marion Olang, Beryl Waindi.

CONTACT:

Thoughts or questions about this episode? Suggestions for topics we can cover later in the season?

Contact: ⁠sonia@refocusmedialabs.org

This was just a brief excerpt from a much larger conversation with Klaas van Dijken - co-founder of Lighthouse Reports, independent journalist

For the full episode go here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2DFZuEw-MM&list=PLIU3A1qWAMTw2W9iCAhSddO3Rq_XkWTBc&index=24

For a year journalists connected to the Lighthouse Reports investigated the treatment of asylum seekers and migrants in North Africa, particularly focusing on the roles of various governments and militias in facilitating deportations and human rights abuses. In this episode Klaas van Dijken, discusses the systematic arrests, racial profiling, and the complicity of the European Union in these operations.

FRACTURED is a production of ReFOCUS Media LabsBECOME A PATRON- www.patreon.com/refocusmedialabsDONATE TODAY- https://refocusmedialabs.org/donateFOLLOW/SHARE- @refocusmedialabsCONNECT- info@refocusmedialabs.orgMUSIC: Theme- "Intro for Legends" by Bonkers Beat Club (Epidemic Sound). Additional- "Mogul" by Blue Steel (Epidemic Sound)

This was just a brief excerpt from a much larger conversation with Amjid Khazir, founder and CEO of Media Cultured.

For the full episode go here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nh2MnCmUTk&list=PLIU3A1qWAMTw2W9iCAhSddO3Rq_XkWTBc&index=28

In this episode, Amjid emphasizes the importance of engaging youth, understanding the trends in radicalization, and the role of social media in spreading hate. The conversation also touches on the significance of cultural intelligence, diversity training, and the impact of sports in promoting social change.

FRACTURED is a production of ReFOCUS Media LabsBECOME A PATRON- www.patreon.com/refocusmedialabsDONATE TODAY- https://refocusmedialabs.org/donateFOLLOW/SHARE- @refocusmedialabsCONNECT- info@refocusmedialabs.orgMUSIC: Theme- "Intro for Legends" by Bonkers Beat Club (Epidemic Sound). Additional- "Mogul" by Blue Steel (Epidemic Sound)

This was just a brief excerpt from a much larger conversation Ben Rawlence - Founding director of Black Mountains College, Author “City of Thorns”You can WATCH FULL EPISODE HERE - https://youtu.be/KvRWr8YZO_Y?si=mRuGpGtCHHm6V19qBen shares his experiences and insights from his time in the Dadaab refugee camp, discussing the complexities of life for refugees, the cultural tensions between different communities, and the challenges faced by young leaders. He highlights the deteriorating conditions in the camp, the difficulties of returning to Somalia, and the misconceptions surrounding refugee needs in Western politics.FRACTURED is a production of ReFOCUS Media LabsBECOME A PATRON- www.patreon.com/refocusmedialabsDONATE TODAY- https://refocusmedialabs.org/donateFOLLOW/SHARE- @refocusmedialabsCONNECT- info@refocusmedialabs.org

MUSIC: Theme- "Intro for Legends" by Bonkers Beat Club (Epidemic Sound) .Additional- "Mogul" by Blue Steel (Epidemic Sound)

In this compelling episode of Fractured, we delve deep into the ongoing refugee crisis at the Polish-Belarusian border. Our guest, Anna Alboth, a journalist and human rights activist, brings firsthand insights into this humanitarian disaster. Anna has been working closely with refugees affected by this crisis and provides a unique perspective on the political, social, and human rights issues at play.

Anna discusses the complex geopolitical dynamics between Poland and Belarus, and how this conflict turned vulnerable populations into political weapons. She shares stories from the ground about the harrowing conditions refugees face—trapped in no man's land, caught between militarized borders, and subjected to extreme weather, violence, and neglect. Anna highlights the work of grassroots organizations, volunteers, and activists who are stepping in where governments have fallen short.

FRACTURED is a production of ReFOCUS Media LabsBECOME A PATRON- [www.patreon.com/refocusmedialabs]( / refocusmedialabs )DONATE TODAY- https://www.collectiveaidngo.org/wher...FOLLOW/SHARE- @refocusmedialabsCONNECT- [info@refocusmedialabs.org](mailto:info@refocusmedialabs.org)

MUSIC: Theme- "Intro for Legends" by Bonkers Beat Club (Epidemic Sound). Additional- "Mogul" by Blue Steel (Epidemic Sound)

In this episode of Fractured we discuss the complexity of migration dynamics in West Africa, particularly focusing on Senegal and Mauritania. Monika Pronczuk, a correspondent for the Associated Press, discusses the increasing trends of migration, the push factors driving individuals to leave their homes, and the role of smugglers in facilitating these journeys. The conversation highlights the economic challenges faced by these countries, the impact of overfishing on local communities, and the cultural perspectives surrounding migration. Additionally, the discussion touches on the challenges of reporting from the region and the implications of EU policies on migration.
Fractured is a production of ReFOCUS Media Labs.Our organisation is proud to join a growing campaign "Where We Rise" to raise €1 million in solidarity with 28 other organisations engaged as frontline actors and movement builders across Europe and beyond. This money will go directly to those doing the work: providing urgent care, challenging harmful systems, and creating new models of solidarity.BECOME A PATRON- www.patreon.com/refocusmedialabsDONATE TODAY- https://www.collectiveaidngo.org/wher...FOLLOW/SHARE- @refocusmedialabsCONNECT- info@refocusmedialabs.org

Fetisov and Lorenzo Natali award-winning investigative journalist Gabriela Ramirez, discusses her investigative journalism story "Widowed by Europe's Borders” about Sanooja's frantic fight to find her husband Sanrim, who went missing in the forest after being illegally pushed back by Lithuanian authorities. The couple from Sri Lanka, highlights the struggles faced by migrants at European borders, and the grim reality of over 30,000 deaths along Europe's borders in the past decade, most of which unfold in total obscurity.

Gabriela and our cofounder Douglas Herman delve into the ethical dilemmas of reporting on such sensitive topics, the personal connections formed during the reporting process, and the broader implications of migration policies in Europe. Gabriela emphasizes the importance of humanizing migrant stories and the ongoing fight for justice faced by families of missing migrants, and the human rights all people deserve, even after death.

FRACTURED is a production of ReFOCUS Media Labs.Our organisation is proud to join a growing campaign "Where We Rise" to raise €1 million in solidarity with 29 other organisations engaged as frontline actors and movement builders across Europe and beyond. This money will go directly to those doing the work: providing urgent care, challenging harmful systems, and creating new models of solidarity.

BECOME A PATRON- www.patreon.com/refocusmedialabsDONATE TODAY- https://www.collectiveaidngo.org/wher...FOLLOW/SHARE- @refocusmedialabsCONNECT- info@refocusmedialabs.org

This was just a brief excerpt from a much larger conversation with the an international child protection specialist and former UNICEF staff Patrizia Benvenuti. You can WATCH FULL EPISODE HERE - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiJ84fk0FqoIn this episode of FRACTURED we return to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Our guest, Patrizia Benvenuti—who has served on multiple missions in the region—shares first-hand insights into the catastrophic conditions for civilians, especially children. She discusses the obstacles to delivering aid, the psychological toll, the targeting of civilians, and the broader implications for international law, including the situation in the West Bank.FRACTURED is a production of ReFOCUS Media LabsOur organisation is proud to join a growing campaign "Where We Rise" to raise €1 million in solidarity with 29 other organisations engaged as frontline actors and movement builders across Europe and beyond. This money will go directly to those doing the work: providing urgent care, challenging harmful systems, and creating new models of solidarity.BECOME A PATRON- www.patreon.com/refocusmedialabsDONATE TODAY- https://www.collectiveaidngo.org/wher...FOLLOW/SHARE- @refocusmedialabsCONNECT- info@refocusmedialabs.org