Change will make it “impossible” for people to secure housing, institute warns
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has hit out at the Home Office for its decision to halve the number of days someone granted asylum in the UK can stay in government accommodation.
The government has decided to cut the ‘move-on’ period from 56 to 28 days
A CIH spokesperson said the institute is “deeply disappointed” by the decision.
She said: “This change will make it almost impossible for people to secure housing, access universal credit, or find work in time, and risks pushing many into homelessness and rough sleeping.
“We urge the Home Office to reverse this decision and reinstate the 56-day period so that refugees have a fair chance to rebuild their lives and local councils and charities are not placed under unmanageable pressure.”
Homeless Link, a membership body for homelessness charities, also criticised the decision.
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In a joint statement Rick Henderson, chief executive of Homeless Link and Bridget Young, director of the No Accommodation Network (NACCOM), said: “We are appalled by Ministers’ decision to revert to the 28-day notice period for refugees with the fewest options available to them, who are at most risk of homelessness and destitution.
“Evidence from NACCOM and Homeless Link’s frontline members indicates that the 56-day move-on period has been a lifeline for new refugees and had a positive impact for the services supporting people.”
They added the decision will put pressure on councils and voluntary sector organisations and result in increased rough sleeping and homelessness services and will ultimately result in more instances of rough sleeping and homelessness among new refugees”.
A government spokesperson said: ”This government inherited a broken asylum and immigration system. We are taking practical steps to turn that chaos around – including doubling asylum decision making to clear the backlog left by the previous government, and reducing the number of people in hotels by 6,000 in the first half of 2025.
“We continue to work with local councils, NGOs and other stakeholders to ensure any necessary assistance is provided for those individuals who are granted refugee status.”
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