Some 64 homelessness organisations have hit out at a authorities plan to halve the size of time asylum seekers have to depart government-provided lodging after being instructed they’ll keep within the UK.
The period of time is ready to be halved from 56 days to twenty-eight, which isn’t deemed sufficient time to search out rented lodging, a job and to type out advantages – leaving individuals in peril of ending up on the streets.
Disaster, Shelter, St Mungo’s and the Chartered Institute of Housing and dozens of refugee and migrant organisations have written to the house secretary, Shabana Mahmood, and the housing secretary, Steve Reed, urging them to cancel the coverage.
The letter mentioned: “The extra strain for native councils comes because the variety of individuals dwelling in momentary lodging is at an all-time excessive, and a scarcity of options will lead to additional use of costly, nightly, paid choices for these eligible.
“Moreover, to trigger increased charges of homelessness amongst newly recognised refugees at a time when racist and anti-migrant sentiment is on the rise will put people at even larger danger of hurt on the streets and exacerbate group tensions. We urge you to rethink.”
Rick Henderson, the chief govt at Homeless Hyperlink, the nationwide membership physique for frontline homelessness providers, mentioned: “We have been appalled on the authorities U-turn on their earlier resolution to grant new refugees 56 days to search out someplace to reside, earlier than being requested to depart Residence Workplace lodging.
“A shorter move-on interval is assured to extend tough sleeping and homelessness amongst an especially weak group of individuals.”
A authorities spokesperson mentioned: “This authorities inherited a damaged asylum and immigration system. We’re taking sensible steps to show that chaos round – together with doubling asylum decision-making to clear the backlog left by the earlier authorities and decreasing the variety of individuals in resorts by 6,000 within the first half of 2025.
“We proceed to work with native councils, NGOs and different stakeholders to make sure any needed help is supplied for these people who’re granted refugee standing.”
