Afghan refugees moved out of hotels facing homelessness
پناهندگان افغان ساکن در هتلهای بریتانیا با بیخانمانی روبرو هستند
Afghan families given refuge by the UK are facing homelessness after being told by the government to move out of hotels, councils have told the BBC.
The families, many of whom worked for the British government, came to the UK after the Taliban takeover in 2021.
Thousands are still living in temporary government-funded hotel accommodation – but are now beginning to be moved out.
Cabinet Office Minister Johnny Mercer has said he will have failed if any of them end up living on the streets.
“That has not happened. And that is not going to happen,” he told the BBC.
However, those that can not find permanent homes will be classed as homeless and the responsibility of local councils.
Councils say some families have already presented as homeless this week. The Local Government Association (LGA) said one in five Afghans leaving hotels were presenting to local authorities as homeless.
It said Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire were particularly affected, but Southampton, Basingstoke, Devon and Essex would also be impacted in the coming weeks and months.
One authority in Essex said it had nine families now facing homelessness. In Milton Keynes, the council has received 32 homelessness referrals so far.
