Advertisement
Social Justice

Number of homeless refugees in Cardiff doubles amid surge in Home Office asylum evictions

An average of 33 refugees a month have been evicted into homelessness in Cardiff since August, up from an average of 10 in previous months

The number of refugees evicted into homelessness in Cardiff has doubled, as the Home Office closes hotels and speeds through the legacy backlog.

A total of 109 refugees were assessed as homeless after eviction from asylum accommodation in the Welsh capital between August and October, up from 51 in the same period in 2022, data obtained by The Big Issue shows.

Attempts to clear the legacy backlog of asylum cases, coupled with an effective reduction in the minimum ‘move-on’ time given to evicted refugees, has resulted in a nationwide homelessness crisis.

Facing a shortage of temporary accommodation, councils in England have warned of thousands being forced onto the streets without urgent financial support.

In Cardiff, an average of 33 refugees a month have been evicted into homelessness since August, up from an average of 10 in the months up to August.

Cardiff Council has made use of a hostel to put up those evicted from asylum accommodation, The Big Issue understands, and has put in place a staff team to deal with the approximately 350 evictions it has seen since the summer.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Eviction will be paused during extreme cold weather – a decision branded a ‘tacit admission’ from the government that its policies are driving homelessness – following pressure from local authorities.

But the Local Government Association (LGA), which represents more than 300 councils in England, said the pause was not enough to prevent homelessness.

“Councils work hard to support refugees but a shortage of available, affordable housing coupled with accelerated Home Office decision-making on asylum claims means we could see refugees sleeping on the streets for Christmas without further action,” said councillor Shaun Davies, LGA chair.

Davies added that councils were already seeing a rise in rough sleeping, and needed flexibility to extend three-day cold weather pauses on evictions when necessary.

“Sharing data is vital, so we are also calling on the government to share information about how many asylum cases each local authority will have to support to help with local planning; to provide additional funding to support the move on process; and to commit to sticking to agreed notice periods for people having to leave their accommodation.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We work with local authorities to manage the impact of asylum decisions.

“Once someone is informed that their asylum claim has been granted, they get at least 28 days’ notice to move on from their asylum accommodation.

“We encourage individuals to make their onward plans as soon as possible after receiving their decision on their asylum claim, whether that is leaving the UK following a refusal, or taking steps to integrate in the UK following a grant.”

Advertisement

Become a Big Issue member

3.8 million people in the UK live in extreme poverty. Turn your anger into action - become a Big Issue member and give us the power to take poverty to zero.

Recommended for you

Read All
'Back to cost of living crisis': Households will be £770 worse off by next UK election, experts say
woman in supermarket
Cost of living crisis

'Back to cost of living crisis': Households will be £770 worse off by next UK election, experts say

Buffer zones outside abortion clinics are step in right direction – but other problems persist
Abortion

Buffer zones outside abortion clinics are step in right direction – but other problems persist

'Where will it stop?': DWP to get 'direct access to bank accounts' in benefit fraud crackdown
rachel reeves' autumn budget
Benefit fraud

'Where will it stop?': DWP to get 'direct access to bank accounts' in benefit fraud crackdown

'Disturbing' disability benefit reforms in Labour's budget could see hundreds of thousands denied help
rachel reeves
Autumn budget

'Disturbing' disability benefit reforms in Labour's budget could see hundreds of thousands denied help

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue