Over 5,000 refugee households in England reported homeless in three months, a fourfold increase from the previous year, alongside a spike in broader UK homelessness affecting thousands of children. Local authorities, charities, and officials are pressed for swift interventions in housing policy.
Between October and December 2023, over 5,000 refugee households in England were recorded as homeless, a fourfold increase from the previous year. This surge in asylum homelessness is largely attributed to refugees losing their entitlement to Home Office-provided accommodation once they receive asylum status, subsequently having only 28 days to secure housing. The Refugee Council has criticized this period as insufficient and calls for an extension to prevent homelessness among newly recognized refugees.
The rise in homelessness coincides with local authorities experiencing increased demand for housing support for asylum seekers, exacerbated by a housing shortage. Despite government efforts to clear the backlog of asylum applications, resulting in more people needing housing, the supply remains inadequate. Migrant Help and other partners are involved in supporting these transitions, though there is ongoing advocacy for more robust assistance systems.
In a related context, a major housing charity has highlighted the broader homelessness crisis in the UK, particularly impacting children. As of December 2023, roughly 145,800 children were living in temporary accommodations. This marks a significant escalation from the situation two decades ago and signifies deeply rooted systemic issues in housing. The charity and campaigners demand urgent government action to tackle the primary causes of homelessness, including no-fault evictions which saw 25,910 people seeking help last year.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, aims to end rough sleeping in the capital by 2030, a response to the 33% increase in rough sleepers noted in early 2024. The overall crisis is described as a humanitarian concern, with calls for increased construction of social housing and reforms in rental security through legislative changes like the Renters Reform Bill. Advocates urge a commitment to building 90,000 social homes annually over the next decade to alleviate the issue effectively.
