Counsel recommended intensifying efforts to offer permanent dwellings for refugees

In a recent development, John Glenton, the executive director of Riverside Care and Support, has expressed concerns about the government's housing policies, particularly their impact on vulnerable groups such as refugees and homeless families.

The implementation of these services, according to Glenton, is currently patchy and inconsistent, limited by short-term commissioning. He suggests a need for a national plan for housing and increased long-term revenue funding for supported housing.

Some councils in England have raised concerns that families may become homeless due to notices to leave temporary accommodation. This issue is particularly pressing, as there are currently 104,510 homelessness households living in temporary accommodation, the highest number since records began 25 years ago.

The government's plans aim to move tens of thousands of people out of hotels and into the private rented sector. However, these proposals have sparked concern, with more than 130 organisations signing an open letter expressing extreme concerns about the government's plans to remove licensing requirements for asylum accommodation.

The open letter calls for the government to abandon plans that would house refugees in unsafe accommodation with inadequate protections against fire and overcrowding. It also expresses concern about the proposed changes, which would exempt landlords from a number of regulations, including electrical safety and minimum room sizes.

Local authorities in England, officially tasked by the government with creating accommodation options for Afghan refugees over the past year, are primarily the local councils (local authorities) in cooperation with the Home Office. These councils manage and develop housing provision and support for Afghan evacuees settled in England.

However, the government's plans to evict refugees from temporary accommodation to reduce costs have raised further concerns. Refugees who have been served notices to vacate temporary accommodation may be forced to sleep on the streets if councils cannot find a home for them.

In a bid to alleviate this issue, Veterans' Affairs Minister, Johnny Mercer, has encouraged local authorities to support and house refugees in permanent accommodation, offering £7,100 in funding for deposits, furniture, and rent.

In the past, reforms that included more investment in homeless hostels, supported housing, and move-on accommodation with a focus on rehabilitation and resettlement have managed to reduce the number of people in temporary accommodation. It is hoped that similar strategies can be employed to address the current housing crisis.

The number of affordable homes needed to meet demand in England is 128,000 more than the current annual production. Addressing this shortfall is crucial to ensuring that everyone has a safe and secure place to call home.

Counsel recommended intensifying efforts to offer permanent dwellings for refugees