London Councils warn of rising refugee homelessness

London Councils has warned that a growing number of refugees are ending up homeless in London after leaving Home Office accommodation.

New research from the cross-party group reports 846 homelessness presentations were made in October from refugees and asylum-seekers evicted from Home Office accommodation such as hotels. This is a 39 per cent increase from September.

London Councils is anticipating that these numbers will rise more over the coming months as the government continues ramping up the number of asylum decisions and works to close several hotels by the new year.

Boroughs are currently struggling with a a severe shortage of accommodation and many are reporting having nothing to offer refugees who are sleeping rough. London Councils reported that this is exacerbated by the Home Office providing no funding to local authorities to support asylum-seekers in hotels since April this year.

London Councils is calling on the government to ensure a minimum 28-day notice period between an asylum-seeker receiving both their asylum decision and Biometric Residence Permit and being required to leave Home Office accommodation. Currently, many are only receiving a few days’ notice after receiving a Notice to Vacate letter; and extend the move-on period to 56-days to align with the Homelessness Reduction Act and to give local authorities a meaningful period to mitigate homelessness risks.

London Councils also wants the government to address SWEP pressures and concerns and Fund a local wraparound support model that can be rolled out in all boroughs - this would include quick and early support, including facilitating access to employment and/or to Universal Credit, language support, and assessments of physical and mental health needs.

Cllr Grace Williams, London Councils’ executive member for communities, said: “No one wants to see refugees becoming homeless after leaving Home Office accommodation, but this is happening at an alarming rate across the capital.

“Boroughs are deeply concerned by the situation, which will only get more dangerous as winter sets in. Those granted asylum need adequate support for settling in the UK, yet too often are forced into sleeping rough on the streets.

“At a time when London already faces enormous and unsustainable homelessness pressures, the government urgently needs to prevent this happening. A longer move-on period for those leaving Home Office accommodation is crucial, as well as funding for the councils whose local services provide vital support and sanctuary for those in need.

“London boroughs are committed to preventing homelessness. The government must work more closely with councils in addressing this growing challenge.”

Kathy Mohan, chief executive of Housing Justice, said: “The situation is desperate. The churches, mosques, and temples in our network are seeing rising numbers of refugees and asylum-seekers approaching them for help, asylum decision letter in hand, with nowhere to sleep, and no idea how to get the support they need. We help where we can but many are resorting to rough sleeping.

“In the coming weeks we will be setting up a new supported lodgings scheme for refugees leaving Home Office accommodation with a positive decision, funded as a pilot by 14 London boroughs. It’s not enough, but it’s something. If we can make it work, we might be able to scale it up further.”

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