Granted Extension for Refugees to Secure Permanent Residences
UK Extends Time for Refugees to Find Accommodation, Aiming to Reduce Homelessness
The UK government has announced a significant change in its policy towards refugees, extending the period for newly recognised refugees to find their own accommodation from the usual 28 days to 56 days. This extension, which forms part of a pilot trial, is now set to continue until the end of 2025 [1][2].
The move is intended to improve the transition away from government-provided asylum accommodation and reduce rough sleeping and homelessness among refugees. The 56-day "move-on" trial, announced by Minister Dame Angela Eagle, started in December 2024 and has been extended to gather further data [1].
Charities such as Crisis and The Glass Door homeless charity have reported that the longer period has helped reduce rough sleeping among refugees, particularly single individuals, by giving them more time to find stable accommodation [1]. Matt Downie, head of homelessness charity Crisis, stated that the extension will ensure that refugees won't face further trauma of life on the streets [1].
The news of the new rules is a positive step for councils, as it may reduce the cost associated with housing asylum seekers. As of now, there are 1,941 refugees without accommodation in the UK, and this year, homelessness among refugees reached record-breaking levels with a 99% increase in refugee homelessness within the last 12 months [1]. The daily cost of housing asylum seekers in hotels, as revealed in annual accounts published last September, has risen to £8 million [1].
The increase in the number of days for refugees to transition from supported housing to their own accommodation will remain in place until June 2025. After this period, the rule will be reassessed [1]. Phil Kerry, chief executive of New Horizons Youth Centre, expressed support for the new rules, stating that they will prevent more refugees from becoming homeless this Christmas [2].
The UK government hopes to move away from costly hotel contracts towards a system that builds long-term assets or housing solutions. However, some refugees still experience brief periods of rough sleeping despite the extension [1]. Matt Downie also mentioned that this is a hugely positive step, and it's important that this becomes a permanent change next year to ensure that refugees granted settled status don't face homelessness in the future [1].
The information provided pertains to refugees in the UK. This extension forms part of a broader effort to overhaul the current asylum accommodation system in the UK, aiming to improve outcomes on homelessness and support integration [1][2].
[1] BBC News, "UK extends time for refugees to find accommodation," 12 December 2024. [2] The Guardian, "Scottish government welcomes UK move to extend time for refugees to find homes," 13 December 2024.
- The UK government's extension of the housing allowance for newly recognised refugees aims to be a significant part of their policy-and-legislation changes in housing and immigration, addressing the general-news issue of homelessness among refugees.
- The housing policy-and-legislation changes, such as extending the time for refugees to find their own accommodation, are a part of the broader political agenda, aimed at improving the integration of refugees into UK society and addressing issues related to general-news topics including homelessness.
