Huge increase in rough sleeping among newly recognised refugees

NACCOM (The No Accommodation Network) has published their annual data briefing “Understanding destitution and homelessness in the asylum and immigration system” looking at the extent and causes of destitution and homelessness among migrants.

We already know from the official statistics that there has been a huge jump in homelessness of newly recognised refugees, a problem hugely exacerbated by the Home Office shortening the period between grants of refugee status and stopping asylum support for several months last year before reverting to the previous position. NACCOM’s report gives us a more detailed picture of what is happening and the extent to which the voluntary sector are having to step in and cover government failings.

Their key findings are as follows:

• The network provided accommodation, ranging from hosting and lodging placements to housing schemes and emergency accommodation including night shelters, for 11% more people than last year, and 82% more than in 2021/22. 
• For the second year running, the network accommodated more people than in any previous year, supporting a total of 4,146 people.
• More refugees are being unjustly forced to turn to the voluntary sector for accommodation and support when they have been granted refugee protection by the state and are legally entitled to statutory support.
• In 2023-24, NACCOM’s members accommodated 1,941 refugee adults experiencing homelessness, a 99% increase on last year, and the largest cohort of refugees the NACCOM network has ever accommodated.
• There was a 129% rise in the number of people who entered members’ support directly after leaving Home Office accommodation.
• Members report a sharp increase of 125% in rough sleeping, particularly amongst new refugees, forcing many to re-think their emergency accommodation provision, ranging from the opening of new night shelters, to booking hotel rooms. Local demand was often greater than capacity.
• Several NACCOM members describe having to distribute rough sleeping packs, including tents and sleeping bags, for the first time for refugee rough sleepers.
• For the first time, NACCOM members collectively provided over half a million nights of accommodation (501,371 nights in total).
• This shows the growing extent to which the voluntary sector provides a safety net for people who fall through the gaps in the asylum and immigration system, stepping in when statutory support fails or is withdrawn.
• This year, 1,257 people with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) were accommodated by the network. Just over half had been refused asylum and were Appeal Rights Exhausted (ARE).
• 236 people were supported to lodge a ‘fresh’ asylum claim after an initial refusal, while many others were supported to move on from homelessness by accessing support provided by the Home Office or Local Authorities.
• This year, NACCOM members had to turn away more people than ever before. Despite incredible efforts, they were unable to accommodate 4,151 people – an increase of 83% from last year. This figure is likely to be a severe underestimation of the true scale of unmet need.

The recommendations made include extending the move on period (the period newly recognised refugees are given before their asylum support stops) from 28 to 56 days, improving the legal aid system and lifting the restrictions on permission to work for those in the asylum system.

One other point to note in the report is the great work that NACCOM members have been doing to support people who have previously been refused asylum to make a fresh claim which can then enable them to re-access asylum support. It is easy for people in this situation to fall out of the system entirely, particularly when they do not have stable accommodation, and so NACCOM’s work in this area is invaluable.

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