Refugees and asylum seekers ‘at risk of homelessness’ as Home Office suspends evictions ban

‘I don’t yet have anywhere to move to,’ says Iranian man told he must leave his accommodation by Sunday

Some refugees and asylum seekers say they have already received written or verbal notice that they must leave within weeks (AFP)

Refugees and asylum seekers have received notice that they must leave their government-funded housing before the end of June, after the Home Office ended its suspension of asylum evictions.

The department announced at the end of March that asylum seekers would not be asked to leave their accommodation for the next three months once their claim or appeal had been decided, due to the lockdown. Ministers said the halt on evictions would be reviewed in June.

But an email to local council bosses last week, seen by Inside Housing, confirmed the government would resume its “move-on process” for individuals living in asylum seeker accommodation in England “later this week”.

When approached for comment, the department said those who had been granted asylum were "being supported as they move into the mainstream social housing system".

The Independent has learnt that some refugees and asylum seekers had already received written or verbal notice that they must leave their accommodation within weeks, leaving many fearing they will become homeless.

It will also put more pressure on councils already bracing for a surge in people in need of housing as, over the coming weeks, homeless people depart from the hotels and other emergency accommodation they have been put up in.

One refugee in Newcastle, who asked not to be named, said he received a letter on 6 June saying he must leave his housing by 28 June. The Iranian national, who was granted refugee status at the end of February but was allowed to stay in his asylum accommodation under the eviction suspension, fears he will be forced into homelessness

“I don’t yet have anywhere to move to. I’m worried. This is a very bad situation. I might have to be homeless,” he told The Independent.

“Someone at the council emailed me and said they were bidding for a council house for me, but I’ve called him two or three times this week and he hasn’t picked up. The charity I volunteer for doesn’t have any accommodation at the moment. They say they’re all full.

“When I got refugee status I was so happy. I was hopeful. But this is very bad.”

Jessie Seal, policy and campaigns coordinator at the NACCOM Network, told The Independent the charity had been informed by councils that the Home Office had identified 300 refugees it planned to evict first. It also believes a number of individuals have already been warned they should prepare to leave their accommodation.

Ms Seal said the coronavirus lockdown would make it difficult to people to find alternative accommodation once they are evicted from asylum housing, pointing out that the vast majority of NACCOM’s refugee hosting schemes – which many refugees rely on after being evicted from asylum housing – were still not in operation due to the pandemic.

“Predominantly people sofa-surf, and a significant proportion go into street homelessness. The drop-ins are still closed, support services are still closed,” she said.

“The concern is that if people are in accommodation and they’re receiving financial support, and they get a letter, at the moment there’s nowhere that would pick that up, and people won’t have anywhere to go.”

Ms Seal added: “The whole way along communication from the Home Office on this has been pretty appalling.”

Liberal Democrat leadership contender Layla Moran said it was "deeply alarming" that refugees were being evicted by the Home Office during the pandemic, and called for clarity from the department.

She added: "Vulnerable people will be put at risk of homelessness because of this heartless decision. It must urgently be reversed. Priti Patel should also make a statement to Parliament clarifying the government's position and what steps are being taken to prevent refugees from becoming homeless."

A Home Office spokesperson said: “There has been no Home Office instruction to ask asylum seekers to leave their properties, and during the pandemic we have been providing accommodation and essential living costs to those who would otherwise have been destitute. It is right that we review arrangements for those whose who do not qualify for asylum support.”