Dire warning of refugee 'camps' crisis after eviction notice is cut

Makeshift refugee "camps" are likely to spring up across England this winter as an unprecedented number of people newly granted the right to remain are sleeping rough after speeded-up Home Office evictions, charities have warned.

- Sammy Gecsoyler, Diane Taylor

In July, newly recognised refugees and survivors of trafficking had the number of days they had to find a new place to live after receiving a "notice to quit" before eviction from Home Office accommodation cut from 28 days to seven after their claim was approved.

Since then, refugee and homelessness charities and local authorities say there has been an acceleration in the number of asylum decisions made and a sharp rise in the number of refugees seeking help for homelessness.

The Home Office said it had recruited a record number of asylum decision-makers, with 40% more in post than in December 2022.

Local authorities have said the majority of refugees who have approached councils for help are single males who they say are not deemed "priority need", meaning councils have no duty to provide anything more than advice and assistance.

Charities have warned that "camps" of homeless refugees could appear in towns and cities across the country in the coming months.