Number of households homeless after leaving Government asylum support soars

By Aine Fox, Reporter8th August 2024News EnglandGovernment / Politics, Housing / Homelessness, Immigration, Local Authorities, News England, Refugees / Asylum, Social Housing

The number of households needing help for homelessness because they had to leave Government asylum support accommodation has soared, new figures showed.

A total of 16,660 households were assessed as being owed assistance from local authorities after being required to leave Home Office asylum support accommodation between July last year and March this year.

That number is more than three times the figure for the equivalent period a year earlier, when 4,690 households needed such help.

Councils can owe help through duties to prevent a household threatened with homelessness or to relieve a household that is already homeless when it approaches a local authority.

The Refugee Council said the figures are a consequence of the previous Conservative government working to reduce the lengthy asylum backlog but lacking a plan for what would happen to people afterwards.

They welcomed the new Government’s approach to tackling the backlog but called for “sufficient support” to ensure those granted refugee status do not end up homelesss.

When a newly recognised refugee is issued with a biometric residence permit (BRP), they have 28 days to move on from asylum accommodation but a number of organisations have previously argued this is not long enough and called for it to be extended to 56 days.

Enver Solomon (pictured), Refugee Council chief executive, said: “Today’s figures are a stark reminder that the 28-day move-on period sets refugees up to fail from the start.

“It’s entirely unrealistic to expect newly recognised refugees to find a home in that time, with no income and no savings. It’s no surprise to see such high numbers in need of homelessness assistance.

“The new Government’s focus on kick-starting asylum processing is absolutely right. Leaving thousands of people in hotels with no end in sight was simply not a credible approach.

“As more asylum decisions are made, it’s vital government puts in place sufficient support to ensure that people granted refugee status aren’t left without a home.

“Let’s remember these are people who have been forced from their countries due to violence and persecution, come to the UK in search of safety and been recognised as refugees needing protection.

“The Government must now follow through by supporting refugees to contribute to our communities, starting with the crucial first step of extending the move-on period to help ensure they have a roof over their head.”

The Government has been contacted for comment.