Advertisement
Social Justice

Home Office’s asylum accommodation policy ‘creates problems’, admits Michael Gove

Refugees are often being granted just seven days to find a new home after eviction from asylum accommodation

Michael Gove has admitted seven-day asylum evictions are “tight and tough’ and “create particular problems”.

The Home Office is also “shunting” the cost of closing asylum hotels onto councils, the secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities said, amid warnings that thousands of refugees will be pushed onto the streets without urgent financial support.

An effective reduction in the move-on period, coupled with the drive to clear the legacy asylum backlog, has resulted in vast numbers of refugees becoming homeless.

“I do think that seven [days] is tight and tough,” Gove told parliament’s Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (LUHC) Committee, but did not commit to pushing for newly-recognised refugees to be granted 56 days – a period in line with other homelessness laws.

“It was the case that 28 days was assumed to be good practice, but I agree that seven days is something local government has told me does create particular problems.”

Once asylum claims are granted, newly-recognised refugees are granted a 28-day ‘move on’ period. But a change made in August has meant many are being afforded a minimum of seven days after receiving vital paperwork.

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Advertisement

This has led to widespread complaints from councils and frontline charities that refugees are not being given enough time to avoid homelessness. 

Joanna Key, a director general at the department, said councils had been complaining that 28 days was not being afforded.

A pause in evictions during cold weather – revealed by The Big Issue – was initiated at the “behest“ of Gove, Key also revealed.

A Big Issue investigation found that the number of refugees evicted into homelessness tripled after the change was made.

Michael Gove’s comments fly in the face of Home Office insistences that refugees are being given enough time to avoid homelessness.

He added that he had been looking “in detail” at financial support for councils as they dealt with the impact of shutting down asylum hotels.

“It’s a cost reduction overall, but a cost shunt, and we want to make sure that is fairly reflected, and conversations are ongoing,” said Gove.

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.”

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

SIGN THE PETITION

It's our call to Keir Starmer to pass a law to end poverty.
big issue vendor holding up a 'we need a poverty zero law' sign

Recommended for you

Read All
Labour has promised to stop poor people dying so early. A Scottish rapper could help them find the way
Darren McGarvey
Health inequalities

Labour has promised to stop poor people dying so early. A Scottish rapper could help them find the way

Football has a racism problem. But England wouldn't be in the Euro final without women of colour
Football

Football has a racism problem. But England wouldn't be in the Euro final without women of colour

These refugees came to Britain for safety. They found roller skates
Refugees

These refugees came to Britain for safety. They found roller skates

Revealed: Scrapping two-child benefit limit will make 'no difference at all' to 140,000 children in poverty
A small child's hand holds an adult's finger
Two-child limit

Revealed: Scrapping two-child benefit limit will make 'no difference at all' to 140,000 children in poverty

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