Press Release

Refugee housing guide urges councils and housing associations to be more constructive

21 September 2005

Social housing providers need to engage more constructively in securing accommodation for refugees and asylum seekers and making community support services available to assist integration, according to a good practice guide commissioned by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

The guide, written by John Perry, the Chartered Institute of Housing's Policy Adviser, suggests that many local authorities outside major cities have yet to take sufficient account of the needs of asylum seekers and refugees. Housing associations have also been criticised for making a limited contribution.

Combining advice with practical examples of policies and practice, it highlights five major themes:

Accommodation:

A number of housing associations have devised innovative solutions to re-house asylum seekers who have to leave their 'no choice' accommodation after being granted refugee status. The asylum system allows them little time to prevent refugees from becoming homeless, so the measures taken include improved liaison, constructive use of private sector accommodation and even self-build projects.

Support services:

Refugees, who may have been traumatised by torture and persecution in their country of origin, can need sustained support to achieve a settled life in Britain. Existing projects often operate in the voluntary sector, with short-term funding. The guide argues that local authorities and government departments should aim to 'mainstream' services and funding to make them more permanently available.

Community integration:

Mechanisms are needed to link personal support for refugees and asylum seekers to adjust to living in a new neighbourhood, but these should be combined with steps to promote wider community cohesion.

The guide recommends that long-term residents and newcomers be involved in preparing a 'community support plan' to bring people together, promote personal understanding and tackle racism and other problems.

Partnerships:

Housing bodies are often well-placed to take a lead in developing support, but unlikely to be able to provide the full range of necessary services alone. Stronger partnership working between housing organisations and refugee community organisations could lead to services that are more culturally sensitive and better related to individual needs.

Strategies:

Few housing organisations have their own refugee and asylum seeker strategies in place. These are essential if a range of public and voluntary sector support services are to be properly co-ordinated and gaps in services properly filled. They can usefully complement existing local strategies, such as those on homelessness and black and minority ethnic housing needs.

John Perry said: "Housing agencies across the UK are under increasing pressure to support and help integrate new migrants, including asylum seekers and refugees. Yet until now there has been little practical guidance available to housing practitioners on how to do this. This guide aims to fill the gap by explaining policy, legal issues and current practice in a way that will be accessible to housing staff, and bringing together practical examples to illustrate innovative approaches."