Hotels Afghans 'Put At Risk Of Being Homeless'

People who fled the Taliban in Afghanistan are at risk of homelessness in the UK, humanitarian groups have warned, after ministers announced plans to move the refugees out of hotels and into homes on the condition they accepted the first offer they received.

- Jamie Grierson, Rajeev Syal

Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, said: "We are deeply concerned about many elements of these plans, in particular the risk that they could lead to people who fled the Taliban in Afghanistan being left homeless and destitute on the streets of Britain.

"This is not how those who were promised a warm welcome in the UK should be treated. Hotels are not the right place for refugees to live but the fact that thousands of Afghans have been left in them for months is a consequence of government mismanagement and a failure to work successfully in partnership with local councils and other agencies to find suitable housing."

Announcing the move in the Commons, the minister for veterans' affairs, Johnny Mercer, confirmed that refugees in hotels who turned down the newly offered accommodation would not get a second offer. He said the measures represented a "generous" offer. "In return for this, we do expect families to help themselves. Whilst this government realises our significant responsibilities to this cohort there is a responsibility upon this group to take the opportunities offered under these schemes and integrate into UK society. Where an offer of accommodation can be made and is turned down another will now not be forthcoming. At a time when there are many pressures on the taxpayer and housing market it is not right that people can choose to stay in hotels when other perfectly suitable accommodation is available."

The Home Office said the government was providing £35m in new cash for local authorities that would go towards increasing the level of support available and overcoming barriers in accessing the housing system and employment.