Number of homeless refugees in England soars, BBC has found
BBC • • world
Key Points:
- The number of refugee households who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in the UK has increased five-fold over the past four years, largely attributed to government policies such as the 28-day move-on period after refugees are granted status.
- Charities blame the short 28-day period to leave Home Office accommodation and the faster processing of asylum claims for the rise in homelessness, as many refugees struggle to secure housing or benefits before support ends.
- The government states it is committed to helping refugees transition to independent housing and is working with local authorities to reduce homelessness risks, but the asylum system remains overwhelmed with a significant backlog of claims and appeals.
- London and the North West have the highest proportions of homeless refugees, with areas like Hillingdon experiencing a
