Solomon also praised the Labour government’s focus on “getting the asylum process moving”. He claimed that continuing to house refugees in hotels “with no end in sight” was “not a credible approach”.
“As more asylum decisions are made, it is vital that the government provides sufficient support to ensure that people granted refugee status are not left homeless,” Solomon added.
“Let us remember that these are people who have been displaced from their countries due to violence and persecution, who have come to the UK in search of safety and have been recognised as refugees in need of protection.
“The Government must now fulfil its duty to support refugees to contribute to our communities. To do this, it must take the crucial first step and extend the onward travel deadline to ensure they have a roof over their heads.”
The rise in refugee homelessness was likely exacerbated by Rishi Sunak’s 2023 decision to reduce the amount of time a newly recognised refugee can stay in an asylum accommodation before being evicted. His government cut the time to just seven days to clear the asylum backlog, but this decision was quickly reversed after the number of refugees becoming homeless after leaving asylum accommodation tripled.
Charities and experts claim that the 28-day relocation period is not enough to find accommodation, so many are calling for the period to be extended to 56 days.
“Leaving refugees with newly granted residency status on the streets was the end point of an asylum system that was completely destroyed by the last government,” said Steve Smith, CEO of Care4Calais.
“For people who have fled horrors such as war, torture and modern slavery, being granted refugee status in the UK and with it the hope of a safe future should be a cause for celebration. For too many, this has become the latest nightmare over the last year.”
Smith added that the Labour government must get the UK asylum system “right from the start, by creating safe pathways to claim asylum in the UK, right through to the end point where people granted refugee status are supported to move on with hope, rather than being put out on the streets where they become homeless”.
Housing charity Shelter added that the figures were a “damning indictment” of the way refugees were treated in the UK.
“People have less than a month to find a home in an increasingly competitive housing market where there is already a huge shortage of affordable rental homes,” said Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter.
“Not giving refugees who have a legal right to stay enough time to find accommodation will only lead to homelessness. The Home Office must work more closely with councils to prevent this.”
What benefits are refugees entitled to?
Asylum seekers in England are not entitled to welfare payments, but are entitled to £49.18 a week to cover the cost of food, toiletries, clothing and travel. Asylum seekers are entitled to the money if they are staying in asylum accommodation or with friends and relatives.
Pregnant women and mothers of small children are also entitled to additional payments: pregnant women receive £5.25 per week and mothers of a baby under one year old receive £9.50 per week.
Asylum seekers without refugee status are not allowed to work, even on a voluntary basis.
After being granted refugee status, people receive a biometric residence permit (BRP), which means they no longer receive cash benefits and must move out of the asylum accommodation. The BRP allows refugees to work, apply for social benefits, get a social security number and open a bank account.
Once an asylum seeker has been granted refugee status, a 28-day period to find accommodation begins. Many refugee households are at risk of homelessness after this period.
The government’s figures on refugee homelessness come as right-wing extremist riots broke out in several cities across Britain last weekend, with protesters attacking mosques and setting fire to a hotel housing asylum seekers.
However, the weekend’s unrest was met with widespread support after anti-migrant sentiment turned. Thousands of peaceful protesters marched to Walthamstow in east London on Wednesday to show their solidarity with the refugees.
A government spokesperson told The Big Issue: “We have inherited enormous pressures in the asylum system, but we are working to ensure people get the support they need after an asylum decision is made and we are helping local authorities to better plan their homelessness response.”
“Support for newly recognised refugees is available through Migrant Help and its partners. This includes advice on accessing Universal Credit, the labour market and where to get support in finding accommodation.”
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