In recent months, the city of Leeds has witnessed a distressing surge in the number of asylum seekers forced into homelessness due to the Home Office’s eviction policies, revealing a dire humanitarian emergency.
The Big Issue discovered that from August to October 2023, a staggering 70 households in Leeds became homeless, marking an alarming eightfold increase compared to the same period in 2022, where only eight faced such circumstances, as reported by The Big Issue.
This surge is not unique to Leeds, as cities nationwide grapple with the repercussions of attempts to clear the legacy asylum backlog.
A temporary accommodation shortage, coupled with a reduction in the time provided to newly-recognized refugees to find housing, has resulted in a widespread refugee homelessness crisis. Since the changes implemented in August 2023, the national figure for evictions into homelessness has tripled.
Leeds, in particular, has been significantly impacted, with an average of 23.3 households becoming homeless every month since August 2023, compared to the 7.7 monthly average in the months leading up to this date.
Jon Beech, the director of Leeds Asylum Seekers’ Support Network, placed the blame squarely on the government, stating, “It is a terrible mess that is wholly avoidable and wholly the fault of this terrible government who have dumped people in Leeds in the full knowledge that this would happen.”
Beech further highlighted the dire circumstances faced by refugees, including a lack of access to warm clothing, emphasizing that what Leeds is experiencing is nothing short of a humanitarian emergency.
Despite evictions being temporarily halted during extreme cold weather and the Christmas season, concerns persist about the government’s decision to end Home Office accommodation during the winter months, leaving many without a place to go.
London mayor Sadiq Khan echoed these concerns, emphasizing the critical need for an immediate pause in evictions. “My worry is the government is ending the Home Office accommodation during winter. The problem with that is unless you’ve got accommodation to go to, you’re going to be on the streets,” Khan expressed to The Big Issue.
Leeds council, however, maintains that the rise in homelessness has not translated into a corresponding increase in rough sleeping. A spokesperson assured that the council’s homelessness service is prepared to support former asylum seekers facing homelessness.
This support includes conducting homelessness assessments and offering extensive advice and assistance to secure accommodation. The council asserts that strong partnerships with asylum accommodation providers and other community partners are in place to aid this vulnerable community.
As the city grapples with this escalating crisis, it becomes increasingly apparent that urgent action is needed to address the systemic issues contributing to the surge in refugee homelessness.
The plight of these vulnerable individuals underscores the importance of a compassionate and effective response from both local authorities and the government to prevent further human suffering on the streets of Leeds
