- We stand by the people of Afghanistan. Through Op Pitting we undertook the largest and fastest emergency evacuation in recent history to help thousands of people to safety.
- The UK made an ambitious and generous commitment to help resettle those fleeing persecution and those who served the UK. Since June 2021, we have brought 24,500 people to safety to the UK.
- The safe and legal routes we have provided for Afghans through the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) and Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP), offer a path to a new life here, with the right to work and access to health, education and employment support as soon as they arrive.
- We work closely with local authorities, which have been provided with a substantial level of funding through these schemes so they can provide a complete package of support to help families fully integrate into communities.
- While over 9,000 Afghans have now been supported into settled homes, c.8,000 remain in UK hotels – half of whom are children.
- These are not – and were never designed to be – suitable long-term accommodation and they hold families back from putting down roots and getting consistency in education, healthcare and employment.
- The UK Government’s new plans, backed by new funding, will speed up the resettlement of Afghans into long term accommodation so they can benefit from the security and stability that comes with this, allowing them to successfully rebuild their lives.
- The includes £35 million new funding for local authorities, which will go towards increasing the level of support available, and the Local Authority Housing Fund expanded by £250 million to help councils source homes to house Afghans currently in bridging accommodation.
- Dedicated staff, including Home Office Liaison Officers, DWP work coaches, council staff and charities, will be regularly based in hotels to provide advice to Afghans, including information on how to rent in the private sector, helping people find jobs and signposting available English language instruction.
- More information can be seen here: New support for Afghans in UK hotels to find settled housing - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Why is it important to reduce dependency on hotels?
- The use of hotels has ensured Afghans arriving under the UK’s two schemes, ACRS and ARAP have been housed safely.
- However, in the long term we want people to be able to put down roots in communities through suitable long-term accommodation.
- The move away from hotels will help provide more stability for families so they can rebuild their lives in the UK and ensure they benefit from consistency of public services, schooling, and employment.
Details of the support Afghans receive:
The government support Afghans have received and will continue to benefit from in the UK:
- All arrivals via the ARAP and ACRS schemes have had the right to work and receive benefits from the first day of their arrival, as well as access to public services such as healthcare and education and employment support.
- English language training
- Funding package for local authorities to help families integrate which includes:
- £20,520 per person [over three years] to cover resettlement and integration costs.
- Up to £4,500 per child in the first year to cover education.
- £850 for adults requiring additional English language support in the first year.
- £2,600 for health partners to cover healthcare in the first year.
New government support announced:
- The government will provide intensive support every step of the way.
- We will continue to work with local authorities and other partners to speed up the resettlement of Afghans into longer term housing, so they can successfully make Britain their home and benefit from the security and stability of long term accommodation.
- We will provide £35 million of new funding to enable local authorities to provide increased support for Afghan households to move from hotels into settled accommodation. This new funding recognises the additional burdens being placed on councils to support Afghans into settled homes as quickly as possible and in a way that works in the best interests of local communities.
- This includes £2.5 million to fund teams who will be based regularly in hotels to ensure Afghans have support to discuss their options and opportunities, consisting of Home Office Liaison Officers, DWP work coaches, council staff and charities. The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is also expanding the Local Authority Housing Fund by £250 million, which is helping councils to source homes to house Afghans currently in bridging accommodation. Further details will be announced in due course.
When will the move out of hotels begin?
- The government will issue guidance to individuals and families in bridging accommodation from the end of April, detailing what will happen next and the support available to them.
- Families will be given at least three months’ notice before any hotel closure and the process will be staggered.
- People will be notified at different times to ensure that there is not a disproportionate demand for housing in one area.
- We will do all we can to support them into accommodation, including having dedicated staff based in hotels, so they can get the advice they need, including on how to rent, support to find jobs and access to English language training.
- This is backed by £35 million of new funding to local authorities to deliver this greater support and an expansion of the Local Authority Housing Fund by £250 million which helps councils to source homes.
- Funding of £9,150 per household will also be made available to LAs if needed on a case-by-case basis to manage any additional pressures as required. We will continue to make assessments of need as part of decisions on LA funding.
- Councils also maintain a duty to ensure that families at risk of homelessness have a roof over their head.
When will all Afghans have moved out of hotels?
- We will write to Afghans from the end of April notifying them of when their hotel will be closing.
- Hotel closures will be staggered, with a notice period of three months, and people will be notified at different times to ensure that there is not a disproportionate demand for housing in one area.
- Finding accommodation is a complex process and we are supporting families with many different needs, it is right we prioritise the needs of families rather than focus only on pace.
Will Afghan families be moved to other temporary accommodation, including disused military bases or vessels?
- Afghans who have come to the UK via our safe and legal routes will not be moved onto vessels.
- Our plans provide additional support, including dedicated staff based in hotels to provide advice on how to rent, support to find jobs and access to English language training, so that all Afghans currently living in hotels can move into settled accommodation and lead fully independent lives.
How will Afghans be supported to find homes?
- Dedicated staff, including Home Office Liaison Officers, DWP work coaches, council staff and charities are regularly based in hotels to provide advice to Afghans.
- Advice includes providing information on how to rent in the private sector, helping people find jobs and signposting available English language training.
- We will provide £35 million of new funding to enable local authorities to provide increased support for Afghan households to move from hotels into settled accommodation.
- The government will issue guidance to individuals and families in bridging accommodation in April, detailing what will happen next and the extensive support available to them, before writing to Afghans from the end of April notifying them of when their hotel will be closing.
- Translated guidance will be provided and a helpline is also available for Afghans who arrived under ARAP and ACRS. The helpline number is 0300 790 6268 (select option 2). It operates Monday to Thursday 9am to 4:45pm and Friday 9am to 4:30pm. The helpline is closed on bank holidays. Call charges vary depending on the phone provider and whether you use a landline or mobile. More information on call charges is available on gov.uk.
- All arrivals via the ARAP and ACRS schemes have had the right to work and receive benefits from the first day of their arrival, as well as access to public services such as healthcare and education and employment support.
What about families who have children in school?
- We will take into account families with children about to start exams to ensure their education is not disrupted.
- The responsibility for providing school places rests with the receiving Local Authority, which has a legal obligation to allocate a school place to a child in their catchment area.
- Hotel closures will be staggered so we can better support families and to ensure that there is not a disproportionate demand for housing in one area.
What about people going through healthcare treatments?
- Considerable care will be taken to ensure any health needs will be met.
- Residents who have specific medical concerns or require ongoing treatment will be considered on a case-by-case basis and supported to make alternative arrangements if appropriate.
Will you be offering housing options to Afghans?
- Some Afghan families will receive one option of housing from the Government.
- However, there will be a very limited number of additional properties provided by local authorities which the Home Office can offer. Most families will not receive an offer of accommodation from the Home Office, but if they do, we strongly advise them to accept this.
- The existing Find Your Own Accommodation pathway empowers Afghan families to source their own accommodation, rather than the Home Office.
- They will need to secure agreement, from their new Local Authority, that they will continue to receive ongoing integration support from them once they have moved into their new home. Those that do need resettlement support are able to find their own accommodation independently.
- Councils may be able to help with costs like initial rent, deposits and furniture. The Home Office can help with transport to move individuals and their belongings when they move to the new property. Councils can also provide ongoing support, like helping individuals find a nearby school and GP.
How will Afghans pay for private rented accommodation?
- Afghans will be responsible for paying their rent through their earnings, or through Universal Credit; the latter subject to the benefit cap, will cover up to the value of the Local Authority Housing Allowance rate, which can be viewed at: https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/Search.aspx
- Local Authorities have access to funding to help Afghans with upfront rent, furniture, deposits rent top ups and ongoing integration support for three years.
- Additional funding will be made available for these purposes.
Will Afghans be forced to move away from the areas in which they have settled?
- We have always been clear with guests that there is no expectation that any settled accommodation allocation will be in the same area.
- Some Afghan families will receive one option of housing from the Government which could be outside of the existing area they currently live in. For those who do receive an offer, we strongly advise accepting this.
- The Find Your Own Accommodation pathway empowers Afghan families to source their own accommodation, rather than the Home Office, enabling them to an area of their own choosing.
- The government’s plans will support all Afghans currently living in hotels to move into settled accommodation, so they can lead fully independent lives.
- Councils may be able to help with costs like initial rent, deposits and furniture. The Home Office can help with transport to move individuals and their belongings when they move to the new property.
- Where Afghans source their own accommodation, if they wish to continue receiving integration support, the agreement of the new Local Authority is required.
- However, Afghans will be responsible for paying their rent through their earnings, or through Universal Credit.
How will this affect future arrivals under Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) and Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP)?
- It is vital that those arriving have somewhere suitable to stay once they are in the UK. We continue to work at pace with Local Authorities and other partners to source suitable accommodation, in order to be able to welcome more Afghans.
- We will only facilitate ACRS and ARAP third country arrivals where suitable accommodation can be secured ahead of arrival, including where individuals can be supported to arrange accommodation themselves.
- The security of long-term housing will mean consistency of public services, schooling, and employment.