Counsel urged to intensify efforts in establishing permanent residences for refugees

In a recent development, the government is evicting refugees from temporary accommodation as part of a cost-cutting measure. This move has raised concerns among local authorities, who fear that families may become homeless as a result.

The number of homeless households living in temporary accommodation in England currently stands at 104,510, the highest since records began 25 years ago. This figure underscores the existing housing crisis in the country.

John Glenton, the executive director of Riverside Care and Support, has expressed concern that refugees who are served notices to vacate temporary accommodations may become homeless if councils cannot find homes for them.

In an attempt to address the housing crisis, John Glenton has suggested a need for a national plan for housing that tackles homelessness and for the government to increase long-term revenue funding for supported housing. He believes that spending on supported housing should at least match the £1.6bn per year allocated to local authorities in England in 2010.

The government's plans aim to move tens of thousands of people out of hotels and into the private rented sector. To facilitate this, £7,100 in funding has been made available for deposits, furniture, and rent. However, concerns have been raised about the adequacy of this funding, given the high demand for affordable homes in England, which research indicates requires the building of 128,000 more homes annually.

Multiple organizations, including the Refugee Council, Refugee Action, and the British Red Cross, have written an open letter to Michael Gove and Suella Braverman expressing serious concerns about regulations affecting the removal of licensing requirements for asylum accommodations. The changes proposed by the government would exempt landlords from electrical safety and minimum room size regulations, raising concerns about the safety and living conditions of refugees in private accommodations.

The open letter calls for ministers to abandon plans that would house refugees in unsafe accommodation with inadequate protections against fire and overcrowding. Veterans' affairs minister, Johnny Mercer, has encouraged local authorities to support and house as many refugees as possible.

Despite the ongoing debate, the article does not provide any new information about the government's plans to provide stable homes for Afghan refugees or the government's eviction of refugees from temporary accommodation. The image accompanying the article features Julie Ricard, but the article does not provide information about her role or connection to the housing crisis or the refugee situation.

John Glenton also mentioned that the implementation of services offering rehabilitation and resettlement of people affected by homelessness is currently patchy and inconsistent. He did not mention any specific plans or initiatives by the government to address these issues.

Counsel urged to intensify efforts in establishing permanent residences for refugees