The number of refugee households in England classed as homeless has risen sharply, with over 5,000 households affected between October and December 2023. This is four times the number in the same period in 2022. The refugees became homeless after gaining asylum and being told to leave their Home Office accommodation.
The Refugee Council charity has criticized the system, saying that refugees are being "set up to fail" and need more time to find permanent housing. The charity's chief executive, Enver Solomon, has called for the "moving-on period" to be at least doubled, saying that the current 28-day notice period is "unrealistic" and leads to "destitution and homelessness".
The latest figures show that 9,580 households were accepted as needing help after becoming homeless due to leaving asylum accommodation in 2023, up from 3,340 in 2022. The number of households at risk of homelessness also increased.
Asylum seekers are housed in Home Office accommodation while their claim is assessed, but once they are granted refugee status, they are given 28 days to find a new place to live. If they are unable to do so, they are classed as homeless and become the responsibility of local councils.
Councils have rules for assessing whether someone is homeless or at risk of homelessness and whether they are entitled to help with keeping or finding new accommodation. However, the shortage of available and affordable housing means that many refugees are struggling to find permanent homes.
The Local Government Association, which represents councils, has said that local authorities are facing a shortage of available and affordable housing for people leaving Home Office asylum accommodation. The association has called for a better system to support asylum seekers in finding permanent homes.
A government spokesperson has said that support is available for newly recognized refugees, including advice on how to access Universal Credit, the labor market, and housing assistance. However, the Refugee Council has criticized the government's approach, saying that it is not doing enough to support refugees in finding permanent housing.
The issue has been exacerbated by a change to the notice period, which was reduced to as little as a week in some cases. This change was later reversed, but the latest figures include the time it was in force.
The government has said that it is working to reduce the number of asylum seekers awaiting a decision, but the latest figures show that the number of refugees classed as homeless is still rising. The Refugee Council has called for urgent action to address the issue, saying that the current system is "dysfunctional" and "sets newly granted refugees up to fail".
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