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The UK high court has halted evictions of thousands of new refugees who were at risk of spending Christmas on the streets.
Concern had been mounting among lawyers and human rights campaigners that within days of celebrating being granted refugee status the group could find themselves rough sleeping.
Asylum seekers had their move-on period from government accommodation extended from 28 days to 56 days after being granted refugee status, thanks to a pilot scheme the Home Office launched a year ago. Campaigners say 28 days is not long enough for people to sort out their lives and find accommodation, a job, benefits or study opportunities.
Many, including the British Red Cross, reported a significant fall in the numbers of street homeless people when the move-on period was doubled.
But at the end of August, the government decided to revert to giving 28 days’ notice before evictions, leading to protests from more than 60 non-governmental organisations.
On Wednesday, a high court order was agreed that requires the Home Office to issue instructions to its caseworkers to extend move-on periods from 28 to 56 days when the person satisfies the caseworker they are facing the imminent prospect of street homelessness. This order will prevent an estimated 3,000 new refugees from ending up on the streets in the next few weeks.
However, the court order does not apply to those who have already been evicted and who are rough sleeping.
One 19-year-old Eritrean refugee has been sleeping under a bush close to a station in north London for more than two months after he was evicted from a Home Office hotel. He approached his local council for help with finding new accommodation but was rejected because officials said he was not in “priority need”.
“I had a very difficult journey to safety after I fled my country. I was enslaved in Libya and made the dangerous journey across the Channel,” he said. “I am happy I have been granted refugee status but did not expect I would end up sleeping under a bush in the middle of London after everything I have been through.”
Ahmed Aydeed, of Deighton Pierce Glynn solicitors, who challenged the 28-day period in the high court, welcomed the order.
He said: “We’re grateful that, subsequent to court intervention, the home secretary has agreed to disapply 28-day evictions in circumstances where an individual is at imminent risk of street homelessness. Over 3,000 people can now use this process if they’re at risk, until 16 January.
“This order will help save lives. No one should be forced into destitution and street homelessness, especially during this extreme winter weather.”
Bridget Young, the director of the No Accommodation Network (NACCOM), said: “This is welcome news, which for many newly granted refugees will mean the difference between spending Christmas safely housed or on the streets.
“All the evidence shows that 28 days is not enough time for people to find alternative accommodation. It is unconscionable that we could have seen a surge of people made street homeless in the lead-up to Christmas, with fewer services available to support them and crisis services already stretched or full.
“We urge the government to do the right thing and make the 56-day move-on period permanent and give everyone who is provided sanctuary here the chance to find a safe and secure home.”
The Home Office has been approached for comment.
