Despite the clear intersection between the asylum system and homelessness, funding streams for both remain largely separate and insufficient to meet growing demand, writes Kirstie Cook, chief executive of the King’s Arms Project charity, as part of the Reset Homelessness campaign.
Seeking asylum is a human right, and every person in the world has the right to apply for asylum if they are fleeing conflict or persecution. All asylum systems should be designed to provide protection and support, with an emphasis on bringing stability, safety and certainty as quickly as possible to people who are traumatised, disorientated and often grief-stricken.
However, the reality for many asylum seekers entering the UK is starkly different. A lack of coherent policies, insufficient funding and an absence of effective prevention programmes mean the system often pushes vulnerable individuals into homelessness rather than safeguarding them from it.
This only compounds the trauma already present, which has immediate and longer-term consequences for the ability of people to recover and thrive.
The added pressure on homelessness and migrant support services, which are expected to absorb this demand without additional resources, creates an unsustainable situation that deepens social inequalities and undermines the objectives of both asylum and homelessness policies.
One of the primary reasons the asylum system exacerbates homelessness is the disjointed nature of policies governing support and accommodation. Asylum seekers are entitled to temporary accommodation and basic financial assistance while their claims are processed. These provisions often fall short of meeting their needs.
Moreover, once an asylum seeker is granted refugee status, they face an abrupt transition out of asylum accommodation, with only a short period to secure housing and financial stability. This rapid transition, commonly referred to as the move-on period, frequently leads to destitution, as newly recognised refugees struggle to find employment, register for benefits and secure housing within an unreasonably tight timeframe.
Without access to public funds, rejected asylum seekers often have no choice but to rely on overstretched charitable organisations or informal networks for survival.
For those whose asylum claims are rejected, the situation is even bleaker. Many become ineligible for government support but are also unable to return to their countries of origin due to ongoing conflicts or personal safety concerns, plus their support networks and communities have often been torn apart, leaving them with nothing to return to even if they could go back.
Without access to public funds, rejected asylum seekers often have no choice but to rely on overstretched charitable organisations or informal networks for survival. In practice, this leaves many individuals at high risk of street homelessness, yet again compounding the pressures on local homelessness services.
For rejected asylum seekers, providing temporary accommodation and casework support while exploring all legal and voluntary return options would prevent destitution.
Despite the clear intersection between the asylum system and homelessness, funding streams for both remain largely separate and insufficient to meet growing demand. A lack of joined-up thinking, an absence of forward planning and a seemingly complete ignorance of the issues charities such as ours are dealing with, are leaving us fighting a rising tide of increasingly complex situations, entrenched trauma and crisis situations.
Prevention is a crucial element of any effective homelessness strategy, yet the asylum system lacks sufficient mechanisms to prevent individuals from falling into homelessness at key transition points.
Many asylum seekers do not qualify for statutory homelessness assistance, either because they are subject to immigration controls that make them ineligible or because they fail to meet the priority-need criteria. As a result, they are left to rely on charities and community organisations that are already struggling to cope with demand from the general homeless population.
Moreover, migrant support services often operate with limited resources, relying heavily on grants and donations rather than sustained government funding. Without a consistent funding model, these services, such as ours, are unable to plan long term or expand their capacity to meet the rising number of asylum seekers experiencing homelessness. This lack of financial stability also affects the quality of support provided, as caseworkers and outreach workers face overwhelming caseloads with minimal resources to intervene effectively.
It is worth highlighting that civil society, especially faith communities, plays a vital role in areas such as supporting asylum applications; advocating for vulnerable individuals; securing accommodation and other essentials; and procuring community support that may not be sanctioned, funded or delivered by the government.
Homelessness can hinder integration efforts, making it more difficult for refugees to contribute to society through employment and community participation.
The failure to address homelessness among asylum seekers has broader societal consequences. Increased homelessness places additional strain on public services, including healthcare, social services and law enforcement. When individuals are forced into precarious living situations, their physical and mental health deteriorate, leading to higher costs for emergency healthcare and crisis interventions.
Additionally, homelessness can hinder integration efforts, making it more difficult for refugees to contribute to society through employment and community participation. By contrast, when adequate support is provided, asylum seekers and refugees can successfully rebuild their lives, becoming productive members of society who contribute economically and socially.
We need a more cohesive, humane and planned approach, recognising the needs of the individual and drawing on the collective strengths across the sector with careful and well-targeted funding. Migration is not going away and, indeed, will only become more pressing in the next few decades as an increasing number of people flee their homes due to geopolitical instability and climate change.
Without change, the UK asylum system will continue to push already-vulnerable individuals into homelessness, placing unsustainable pressure on already-stretched services.
Kirstie Cook, chief executive, King’s Arms Project