New data from London Councils reveals that hundreds of refugees are sleeping rough in the capital after leaving Home Office hotels.
Our regular survey found 311 refugees were forced to sleep rough after eviction from Home Office accommodation in January 2024. This marks an increase of 234% compared to September 2023, when we began undertaking this survey, and which found 93 refugees sleeping on London’s streets.
The survey assesses homelessness among those leaving the National Asylum Support Service (NASS). It captures data on single refugees (i.e. not families) presenting as homeless to local authority services and those contacting outreach teams or day centres – including those provided by voluntary sector organisations – while already rough sleeping on the streets of London.
NASS is part of the Home Office and administers financial and accommodation arrangements for asylum-seekers while their cases are considered.
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|
Number of NASS-leavers who slept rough in London |
Number of NASS-leavers presenting to homelessness services in London (Not necessarily rough sleeping) |
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September 2023 |
93 |
609 |
|
October 2023 |
112 |
846 |
|
November 2023 |
215 |
1,036 |
|
December 2023 |
We do not hold December data due to initiatives like Crisis at Christmas which skews the figures for this month. |
|
|
January 2024 |
311 |
1,087 |
The data also shows that when London’s severe weather emergency protocol (SWEP) was activated in response to plummeting temperatures in January, 242 (20%) of the 1,284 rough sleepers placed in emergency accommodation were refugees previously housed by the Home Office. SWEP is triggered when weather conditions pose a threat to life.
We anticipate that rough sleeping among refugees will continue to increase as the government ramps up the number of asylum decisions it makes and reduces its use of hotels.
Our survey suggests the vast majority (over 90%) of those rough sleeping after leaving Home Office accommodation have received a positive asylum decision. Once a decision is made and a Biometric Residence Permit card has been issued, refugees have 28 days to leave Home Office accommodation. London Councils believes this is insufficient time for refugees to find work and housing, especially since many have experienced trauma and face language barriers. Receiving refugee status should be a time of relief and celebration, yet it has become a period of despair and destitution for so many refugees across the capital and beyond.
Recent government data revealed spiralling levels of all rough sleeping across London, with last year seeing a 32% jump in the number of people sleeping rough in the capital. Rough sleeping has gone up across England but London is experiencing the largest increase.
Our ask of London MPs
We appreciate anything London MPs can do to raise the challenges of rising homelessness and rough sleeping among refugees. We are calling on the government to:
Commit to a 56-day ‘move-on period’ for refugees and asylum-seekers leaving Home Office accommodation, so local authorities have more time to assist with housing arrangements and reduce the risk of homelessness.
Expand the eligibility for Local Authority Housing Fund properties to include newly recognised refugees. The Local Authority Housing Fund is a welcome and successful scheme for Ukrainian and Afghan refugees. The government should broaden the scheme to include other newly recognised refugees facing or at risk of homelessness.
Recognise asylum accommodation as supported accommodation. This would mean refugees under the age of 35 could access privately rented accommodation at the higher ‘self-contained’ Local Housing Allowance rate. Local Housing Allowance goes to eligible households as part of housing benefit or Universal Credit payment to cover private rented sector housing costs. Currently, for refugees under 35 Local Housing Allowance entitlement is capped at the lower ‘shared accommodation’ rate. This is a key driver in homelessness for refugees and asylum-seekers under 35, as it places the vast majority of privately rented properties out of reach.
Enhance Homelessness Prevention Grant funding to support those who are at risk of rough sleeping, but who are not eligible for assistance under the Homelessness Reduction Act/Housing Act legislation.
Bring forward a cross-departmental strategy to reduce homelessness. Tackling homelessness must become a major priority at a national level with government departments working together – in addition to key partners such as local authorities – as effectively as possible.
