East group calls for more support to help resettle Afghan refugees
The East of England Local Government Association have, this week, written a letter to the Minister for Afghan resettlement
Last updated 2nd Dec 2021
The Home Office must offer more support and equitable funding to help local councils house and resettle Afghan refugees faster and more smoothly, according to the East of England Local Government Association (EELGA).
They are a cross-party organisation that works on behalf of the 50 local councils in the region.
This week, they wrote to the Home Office and the Minister for Afghan Resettlement to ask for help so that the housing process could be streamlined therefore reducing the long waiting time for the refugees.
Linda Haysey is the association's chairperson: "It is not satisfactory that these families are being kept in bridging hotels (which is the temporary accomodation provided until a house is found) for many, many weeks. It is not good for their confidence or their mental health.
"We all recognise that it is a complex process but these are vulnerable individuals and that should be our first concern."
One of the reasons for long periods of waiting is for the time it takes to match the person or family to a house that meets their needs. Councillor Haysey, who is also leader of the East Herts Council, says they must cast their nets wider than just public housing or housing associations
"If we're able to work with private landlords too, and they have the guarantee of appropriate rents etc, then often that will open up a different housing market which you know, we need.
"I'm sure people want to help. They have enormous sympathy and empathy with the people who are coming over and it's making sure we can join up those dots."
So far more than 700 people have been housed temporarily across hotels in East Anglia, and a further 400 hundred have been settled in the region. But Councillor Haysey says there funding has to be increased and made more equitable.
"Currently there are two funding streams, one for those who have come through the resettlement scheme and one for those who have come as refugee status. It is not equitable.
"What we would ask the Home Office to do is to make sure that the local authorities have the right funding to support these individuals, but also for us to help give them further support."
In a statement obtained by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, a Home Office spokesperson says, " “Councils will receive a generous funding package to support the resettlement of Afghan families, and we are grateful to all those stepping forward to offer homes to Afghan evacuees as they build their lives here in the UK.
“As part of our cross-government response, we have launched a bespoke local engagement team to help facilitate the resettlement of Afghan families in local communities, which includes weekly meetings with regional representatives to address any concerns at a local, regional and national level.”