Refugees | LocalGov


Asylum hotel contingency plan activated 27/03/2025 The Home Office has activated contingency plans following the axing of an asylum hotel contractor.
Ministers in urgent plea for council help with Afghan refugees 11/03/2025 Councils have been urged to support an Afghan resettlement programme under which regions will be handed an allocation from the 6,000-7,000 annual arrivals.
Council opposes controversial immigration centre 08/10/2024 Oxford City Council members have voted to oppose the controversial re-opening of Campsfield House as an immigration removal centre.
Asylum hotel use may increase as small boat crossings continue 11/09/2024 Asylum hotels are expected to remain open for months, with the Home Office privately suggesting they will be required for longer than originally planned, The MJ understands.
LGA calls for longer asylum move-on time 11/09/2024 Councils have called for people to be allowed more time to leave Home Office accommodation after receiving an asylum decision.
Lone asylum-seeking child arrivals to Kent up 87% 15/07/2024 The number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking (UAS) children arriving in the UK along Kent’s shoreline has risen by 87%.
Rough sleeping in London hits new record high 27/06/2024 The final year of a Conservative government that pledged to end rough sleeping saw a record number of people sleeping on the streets of London.
Party leaders urged to act on migrant homelessness 25/06/2024 More than 100 homelessness and migrants’ rights organisations have called on the next government to stop the asylum system ‘driving people needlessly’ into destitution.
EXCLUSIVE: Full dispersal asylum targets still in draft 12/06/2024 Ministers have not signed off the Government’s 2024 targets for identifying an extra 100,000 bedspaces for asylum seekers this year, The MJ can reveal.
Ending asylum hotel use could put ‘unacceptable pressure’ on councils 29/05/2024 MPs have raised concerns that the Government has not engaged effectively with councils about the impact of its asylum policies on local areas.
Agreement reached over asylum site 29/05/2024 West Lindsey District Council is set to launch a £300m regeneration scheme at RAF Scampton after the Home Office agreed to accommodate fewer asylum seekers at the site.
Asylum seekers moved from RAF Wethersfield due to incomplete safety checks 18/04/2024 The Home Office has moved 70 people away from an asylum accommodation site after it failed to complete necessary safety checks on time.
EXCLUSIVE: Demand surges for UASC age assessments 12/04/2024 Councils are struggling to cope with demand for age assessments of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) as record numbers arrive once again in Kent.
Craig's call for asylum change 07/03/2024 Manchester City Council’s leader has urged Whitehall to implement ‘simple changes’ to asylum policy to ease huge pressures on major urban centres.
Ukrainian homelessness likely to rise 22/02/2024 The risk of homelessness among Ukrainians in the UK is likely to increase as arrangements with sponsors end or break down, MPs have warned.
EXCLUSIVE: Councils offered second chance to claim housing cash 22/02/2024 Civil servants have issued a last-minute invitation for councils to claim cash from a fund that has suffered from poor take up by local authorities.
Council chiefs call for review of Ukrainian refugee scheme 19/02/2024 Council leaders have called for an urgent review of funding for Ukrainian refugees as 9,000 have reported as homeless and more need longer-term support.
New legal bid as long-term asylum site plans confirmed 02/02/2024 West Lindsey DC has launched a fresh legal challenge after the Home Office confirmed its intention to use RAF Scampton to house asylum seekers.
Rough sleeping in London reaches record high 01/02/2024 More people were sleeping rough in the capital at the end of 2023 than at any period in the past decade.
More than 1,000 child refugees placed in adult accommodation 23/01/2024 Child refugees arriving in the UK alone are exposed to harm and abuse in adult accommodation because of the Home Office’s flawed age assessment system, according to a new report.
Barge death concerns 18/12/2023 Concerns over conditions inside some asylum accommodation intensified last week, after the death of an asylum seeker onboard the Bibby Stockholm barge.
Boroughs have ‘nothing to offer’ as refugee homelessness rises 07/12/2023 New research has found that an increasing number of refugees are rough sleeping in London after leaving Home Office accommodation.
Thousands of refugees face homelessness at Christmas, LGA warns 29/11/2023 The Government’s push to clear the asylum backlog is putting ‘tens of thousands’ of refugees at risk of homelessness over Christmas, the Local Government Association (LGA) has warned.
Less than 100 homes for refugees are occupied 24/11/2023 Fewer than 100 homes acquired using a fund to support English councils obtain housing for those fleeing conflicts have been occupied, latest figures reveal.
DLUHC defends homelessness monitoring 23/11/2023 Mandarins have denied they do not have a clear picture of homelessness levels among Ukrainian refugees.
LGA: involve councils in asylum hotel decisions 25/10/2023 Councils want an active role in decisions about ending hotel use for asylum seekers, local government bosses have said.
Charities call for family reunion scheme for Palestinians 23/10/2023 Charities have called for an emergency family reunion scheme for Palestinians modelled on the approach introduced after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Council bosses raise concerns over refugee cap 23/10/2023 The Local Government Association (LGA) has raised concerns about plans to introduce a national cap on refugees that is informed by consultation with local authorities.
NAO calls for Homes for Ukraine clarity 17/10/2023 Ministers must prioritise ‘important decisions’ over Homes for Ukraine – including continued funding for councils, spending watchdogs have urged.
Further stop notice at RAF Scampton 25/09/2023 West Lindsey District Council has again told the Home Office to cease work at RAF Scampton.
Pressure mounts on councils amid refugee homelessness warning 06/09/2023 Refugees are being told to move out of asylum support housing at short notice, adding to pressure faced by council homelessness services, 140 groups warn.
Kent ‘once again’ cannot meet UAS children duties 29/08/2023 ‘Ever-escalating’ arrivals of asylum seekers and a ‘wholly inadequate’ National Transfer Scheme (NTS) have left Kent unable to meet its statutory duties in caring for children, the county council has warned.
Approach to accommodating Afghan families ‘unacceptable’ 15/08/2023 The approach to finding accommodation for Afghan families has been ‘unacceptable’ and represents a failure to ‘live up to Britain's values’, says think tank.
Glasgow refuses permission for asylum barge 08/08/2023 The leader of Glasgow City Council has told the Government that the local authority would not give its consent to dock a barge for asylum seekers in the city.
LGA: Councils already seeing homeless Afghan families 07/08/2023 Councils are already seeing Afghan families presenting as homeless due to the Government’s policy of moving them out of hotels, local authority leaders say.
Firefighters warn Braverman over asylum barge safety 03/08/2023 The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has written to Suella Braverman about fire safety concerns in accommodation for asylum seekers, including the Bibby Stockholm.
Boston council set to approve housing scheme for Afghan refugees 02/08/2023 Boston Borough Council is looking to provide four homes for Afghan refugees as part of a £1m project.
Councillors told to refuse university’s ‘contentious’ asylum housing plans 01/08/2023 Officers at High Peak BC have recommended that councillors refuse the University of Derby’s plans to house asylum seekers in vacant student accommodation.
‘Systematic’ housing of child refugees in hotels unlawful 27/07/2023 Kent County Council has acted unlawfully by failing to accommodate and look after all unaccompanied children seeking asylum, the High Court has ruled.
Councils told to 'step up' on refugee housing 19/07/2023 The Government has told councils to ‘step up’ efforts to provide permanent homes for Afghan refugees, having served legal notices to quit to those in hotels.
Kent launches legal action over asylum-seeking children 06/07/2023 Kent has issued a claim for judicial review against the home secretary, asking her to direct other councils to receive 'fair share’ of refugee children.
Afghan families face homelessness as councils at ‘crisis point’ 04/07/2023 Afghan families are at risk of becoming homeless due to the acute housing shortage, council chiefs warn at the start of the LGA's annual conference.
Westminster Council seeks to become a Council of Sanctuary for refugees 28/06/2023 Westminster Council will vote today on whether it will set out to become a Council of Sanctuary, a designation awarded to institutions that welcome refugees.
Planning inspector green lights Stafford asylum centre 26/06/2023 A Government planning inspector has overruled the local planning authority and given the go-ahead for an asylum seekers centre in Stafford.
Council loses asylum appeal 26/06/2023 Braintree DC has lost its appeal against Government plans to house asylum seekers on a former airfield.
Manchester leaders call for urgent action on asylum seeker hotels 22/06/2023 Manchester leaders call for urgent action on asylum seeker hotels
£150m Ukrainian refugee housing fund announced 12/06/2023 Local authorities are now able to access £150m of funding in order to help Ukrainian families into their own homes, the Government has announced.
Plan to house asylum seekers on ship scrapped 12/06/2023 The latest plan for a cruise ship to house asylum seekers has been scrapped after it was turned down by the port operator.
Council chiefs call for ‘urgent solutions’ to refugee homelessness 09/06/2023 Local authority leaders have called for ‘urgent solutions’ to the issue of refugees being forced to present as homeless.
Aslyum barges plan branded ‘cruel and unworkable’ 08/06/2023 A council leader has attacked plans to house asylum seekers on barges in ports.
Housing experts voice ‘concern’ over HMO licensing changes 25/05/2023 Housing and refugee rights experts have voiced ‘extreme concern’ over plans to remove licensing requirements for HMOs used as asylum accommodation.
Braintree DC plans to appeal court’s airfield decision 12/05/2023 Braintree District Council is to continue with legal action to try and stop an airfield being used to house hundreds of asylum seekers.
Welsh village opposes plans to house refugees in hotel 09/05/2023 Villagers in Wales have vowed to fight plans for 400 asylum seekers to be lodged in a former hotel.
Council has ‘unanswered questions’ about refugee barge 04/05/2023 Dorset Council and police have criticised the Home Office for not answering key questions about plans to house asylum seekers on a barge in Portland Port.
Council staff respond to Sudan evacuation 02/05/2023 Councils have been urged to ‘apply maximum flexibility’ when UK nationals returning from Sudan present as homeless.
Hundreds of refugees wrongly classified as adults, FoI reveals 25/04/2023 Hundreds of young refugees are being wrongly classified as adults by the Home Office, according to new research based on information provided by councils.
Refugees housed in hotels face ‘atmosphere of cruelty’, report says 24/04/2023 Campaigners have called on the Government to allocate councils with more funds to help them provide better services to asylum seekers housed in London hotels.
Councils concerned over Afghan removal plan 12/04/2023 Councils have expressed deep concerns about Government plans to remove Afghan refugees from hotel accommodation amid ‘chronic’ shortage of affordable housing.
Plan to house refugees on former RAF base on hold 11/04/2023 The Government’s plan to house asylum seekers on a former RAF airbase has been put on hold after Braintree council sought an injunction to stop the move.
Portland mayor criticises refugee barge plan 06/04/2023 Portland mayor Pete Roper has criticised the Government’s plan to house refugees on a barge off the Dorset coast because of the pressure on local services.
Councils offered £3,500 to house refugees on barges 05/04/2023 Councils are to be offered £3,500 per migrant for housing them on barges, according to reports.
Plan to house refugees on a barge criticised 04/04/2023 The Government is facing fierce opposition to plans to use a barge off the Dorset coast to house asylum seekers.
Councils criticise plans to house refugees on RAF bases 30/03/2023 Unused military sites will be used to house asylum seekers who enter the UK illegally on small boats despite local opposition, the Government has confirmed.
Councils need ‘resources’ to support Afghan refugees 28/03/2023 Council leaders have called for more resources to help find accommodation for thousands of Afghan refugees who will be moved out of hotels.
Half of Ukrainian refugees face housing barriers 17/03/2023 More than half of Ukrainian refugees have struggled to find somewhere affordable to rent, according to new research.
Council leaders call for review of Homes for Ukraine scheme 14/03/2023 County council leaders are calling on the Government to review funding for the Homes for Ukraine programme.
Change policy on housing asylum seekers in hotels, council chiefs say 13/03/2023 Two-thirds of London’s councils have called on the home secretary to change the Government’s policy on housing asylum seekers in hotels.
Council chiefs call for support to help homeless Ukrainian refugees 24/02/2023 Council chiefs have called for support to help Ukrainian refugees as a new report estimates 4,000 Ukrainian households have been homeless in the last year.
Number of homeless Ukrainian refugees mounts 20/02/2023 Politicians have made a cross-party call to extend support for Ukrainian refugees to prevent them becoming homeless.
Council to buy 50 homes to support refugees 08/02/2023 Birmingham City Council is planning to buy up to 50 homes to provide temporary accommodation for displaced Afghans and Ukrainians.
Ministers pressed over refugee funding cuts 17/01/2023 MPs have questioned the rationale behind Government cuts to funding for refugees.
Councils flooded with ‘bogus’ refugee sponsorship offers 10/01/2023 Local authorities in London are struggling to cope with the amount of bogus Ukraine refugee sponsorship offers they receive, a migrants’ charity has warned.
222 children ‘missing’ from care 24/10/2022 An estimated 222 unaccompanied children are currently missing from the care of the Home Office, new figures have revealed.
Council to pay £1000 to those hosting Ukrainian guests 21/10/2022 Kent CC has announced it is increasing payments to those hosting Ukrainian guests to ensure that they can continue to host with the squeeze on budgets.
Scottish council secures funding to refurbish flats for Ukrainian refugees 07/10/2022 North Ayrshire Council has been awarded nearly £500,000 to refurbish unused properties for people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.
Ukrainian refugees face ‘significant risk’ of homelessness 11/08/2022 There is a risk that many Ukrainian families who have sought refuge in the UK could end up homeless because of a lack of sponsors, council leaders warn.
London councils struggle to house Afghan refugees 09/08/2022 Local authority leaders in London have warned of a ‘severe shortage’ of long-term housing options for refugees from Afghanistan.
Surge in homeless Ukrainian households 19/07/2022 The number of Ukrainian families in need of homelessness support from councils has almost doubled in less than a month.
UK to take in Ukrainian child refugees 21/06/2022 The UK is to take in unaccompanied child refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine with hundreds already on their way to the UK.
Refugees at risk of deportation due to legal aid shorfall 27/05/2022 People seeking asylum are at risk of deportation because of a lack of local legal aid provision in many areas, a new report has revealed.
MPs warn Ukrainian refugees are being forced into B&Bs 24/05/2022 MPs have written to the Government to raise concerns about the Homes for Ukraine scheme in light of reports of Ukrainian refugees being forced into B&Bs.
Refugees who refuse housing offers to become homeless 11/05/2022 Afghan refugees who turn down two offers of accommodation could be referred to councils as homeless.
Councils and schools urged to help Ukrainian refugees integrate 05/05/2022 Local authorities and schools have been urged to help Ukrainian children arriving in the UK as refugees to integrate into their adopted communities.
MPs voice ‘concerns’ over lack of funding for Ukrainian refugees 04/05/2022 MPs have joined council leaders in calling on Government to provide councils with funding to support Ukrainian refugees arriving via the family visa scheme.
Councils need support to protect refugees from exploitation, experts say 29/04/2022 The Government has been urged to take ‘urgent measures’ to support councils in their response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis in order to tackle exploitation.
Sponsors of Ukrainian refugees to get council tax breaks 11/04/2022 Households who become sponsors through the Homes for Ukraine scheme will not lose their council tax discounts, minister for refugees Lord Harrington confirmed.
Councils must find school places for Ukrainian children, Zahawi says 04/04/2022 The education secretary has urged council leaders to work with families arriving from Ukraine to enable the children to attend school as soon as possible.
Councils to fund housing for homeless refugees 01/04/2022 Local authorities will have to pick up the bill for accommodating homeless Ukrainian refugees from their own budgets, a minister has said.
Devon councils launch Ukrainian refugee website 01/04/2022 Local authorities in Devon have launched a new website to help residents who wish to support Ukrainian refugees.
Data issues hampering councils' refugee response 30/03/2022 Councils are struggling to prepare for the arrival of refugees due to a lack of quality data, MPs have been told.
Councils need more guidance on supporting Ukrainian refugees, says MP 23/03/2022 Councils needs more advice and guidance from the Government in order to make the ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme work, the chair of the Levelling-Up Committee has warned.
Charity calls for ‘safeguarding measures’ to protect Ukrainian refugees 16/03/2022 Human trafficking experts have urged the Government to ensure that the Homes for Ukraine scheme includes ‘rigorous safeguarding measures’ to protect refugees.
Councils to receive £10,000 for each Ukrainian refugee welcomed 14/03/2022 Local authorities are set to receive £10,000 for each Ukrainian refugee welcomed into their area, the communities secretary has confirmed.
Home Office directs 29 local authorities to help unaccompanied asylum seeking children 16/02/2022 The Home Office has written to 29 local authorities directing them to help unaccompanied asylum seeking children.
Councils to receive 'generous' funding under Afghan resettlement plan 14/09/2021 Local authorities will receive £20,520 for every person they support under the Afghan resettlement plan, the Government has confirmed.
Kent County Council resumes admittance of lone child migrants 13/09/2021 Kent CC announces that it will resume admitting unaccompanied asylum-seeking children into its reception centres after it stopped earlier in the year.
Government called on to help councils resettle Afghan refugees 08/09/2021 Afghan refugees have been placed in council areas without the local authorities being informed or given the necessary support, a refugee charity has warned.
Liverpool's thriving social ecosystem 06/09/2021 Steve Rotheram outlines how the social trading sector is thriving in Liverpool due to its unique investment and development vehicle.
Government commits £5m to help councils resettle Afghan refugees 01/09/2021 Local authorities in England, Wales and Scotland will receive £5m to help fund the resettlement of refugees who are fleeing the Taliban.
Khan pledges Afghan resettlement help 26/08/2021 The Mayor of London has pledged funding to help councils resettle Afghan refugees.