Last updated: 02 February 2024

This policy briefing reviews the existing evidence to make the case for the inclusion of people with immigration-based eligibility restrictions in mainstream homelessness systems, for good.

For too long, homelessness staff have been desperate for solutions for clients facing immigration-based restrictions. They have been caught between a rock and a hard place, wanting to deliver inclusive and welcoming services, but constrained and exasperated by funding requirements, confusing entitlements and counter-productive legal exclusions.

The briefing provides an overview of what is known and what has changed for non-UK national homelessness and highlights priority action areas for local government and homelessness organisations.

Despite its limitations, Everyone In prompted new ways of doing things. Now local authorities must learn from this and, alongside the sector, show leadership by integrating provision for non-UK nationals into their strategies and Rough Sleeping Initiative plans for 2022-25.  The briefing outlines a range of measures for homelessness commissioners to consider, including: 

  • addressing gatekeeping and confusion via investment in staff training, quality language interpreting and working hand-in-hand with local community groups; 
  • commissioning and embedding independent immigration advice across homelessness prevention and response settings;
  • unlocking longer term accommodation solutions in partnership with local faith and voluntary sector organisations and housing associations and; 
  • developing clear, transparent policies to govern the sharing of client data with the Home Office.  

This publication has been produced in partnership with NACCOM as part of the joint project, Local solutions to non-UK national homelessness. Running from April 2021 with funding from the Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales, it aims to drive more inclusive local homelessness systems that are better able to find solutions for people with eligibility restrictions, including No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF).