Asylum Matters and NACCOM have produced a joint policy paper on the situation for people living in asylum accommodation who face a ‘cliff edge’ if current emergency measures are withdrawn at the end of this month. The paper calls for the continued suspension of evictions from asylum accommodation for at least the next 12 months or longer while COVID-19 poses a public health risk; a permanent end to no recourse to public funds (NRPF) conditions and a new duty and funding for local authorities to house everyone at risk of homelessness.

A number of local authorities have already voiced their support for the suspension of NRPF conditions, and just last week, a coalition of organisations wrote to a number of Councils calling for further action to provide support to homeless people subject to NRPF conditions. We’re now reaching out to local authorities who participate in asylum dispersal to ask them to support the calls for an end to NRPF conditions, as well as demanding further protections from eviction for people seeking asylum.

If you are interested in working with your local authority to get their support on these important issues, do get in touch with Asylum Matters or NACCOM directly – contact details are on the policy paper.

Doctors of the World Briefing on Homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic

In light of increasing concerns about future funding for the Everyone In scheme, Doctors of the World have compiled a  Briefing on COVID-19 and Homelessness highlighting the key findings from their recent Rapid Needs Assessment of Excluded People in England During the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic in relation to supporting People Experiencing Homelessness and the importance of ongoing accommodation support, during and beyond the pandemic and the successful aspects of the Everyone In policy.

Home for All campaign

Crisis have launched a new campaign, Home for All, calling on the UK Government to commit to a plan that will enable everyone across Britain to have the security of a safe and settled home; and to implement the immediate policy changes and funding needed to continue to protect people experiencing homelessness and prevent homelessness for the duration of the pandemic. The campaign calls for a new duty on local authorities, along with funding, to house everyone at risk of homelessness; the suspension of NRPF conditions; a further extension on protections from eviction for people in asylum accommodation; and the implementation of Housing First policies.