Asylum Welcome, in collaboration with Refugee Support Group Berkshire and Oxford Brooks’ Migration and Refugee Research Network, submitted evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee‘s enquiry into asylum accommodation.
The issue of asylum accommodation is important because it directly affects the safety, dignity, and well-being of people seeking asylum in the UK. At Asylum Welcome, we believe everyone deserves safe, dignified, and humane accommodation while seeking asylum in the UK.
Drawing from our extensive experience and previous research, we provided evidence and insights into the current delivery of asylum accommodation by contractors, safeguarding and supporting the welfare of people in asylum accommodation and the Home Office’s collaboration with local partners, particularly local authorities.
In our submission, we highlighted key concerns about accommodation providers, including their failure to deliver appropriate housing, healthcare, and support services, and poor engagement with local communities. We also raised alarm over inadequate safeguarding processes, poor treatment of asylum seekers by staff, and lack of response to complaints. Additionally, we discussed the Home Office’s ineffective coordination with local partners, particularly in response to the 2023 asylum backlog, which created surges in demand for housing and services. This submission underscores the need for immediate reforms to ensure safe, dignified housing and proper support for those seeking asylum.
Thus, the evidence spoke of concerns about performance on the part of contractors in the delivery of services across all three areas explored, and that Home Office providers are falling short of the standards of housing that people seeking asylum should be provided with. Our submission will help the committee better understand the situation and calls for improvements and accountability and pushes for policies that ensure humane living conditions, highlighting the urgent need for reform.
