The theme of Refugee Week 2025, which takes place between 16 – 22 June, is ‘Community as a Superpower’, reminding us that everyone, regardless of their immigration status, deserves a place to call home.
For people who have fled war, persecution and exploitation, having a place in which they feel safe and secure is integral for them to rebuild their lives and thrive, not just survive.
At a time when Government immigration policy is focused on enforcement and deterrence, and our political leaders are using increasingly tough and divisive language to talk about immigration, we urgently need workable, cost-effective policy solutions that protect, not marginalise, migrants and refugees in our communities.
That’s why Homeless Link and NACCOM’s work to influence Government policy on the asylum move-on period is so urgent. In the context of rising refugee homelessness, it’s vital that people exiting the asylum system are properly supported to rebuild their lives. To create integrated communities where all residents can participate, feel welcome, and have their needs met, we must address the issue of refugee and migrant destitution and homelessness.
Our work around the asylum move-on period
Migrant homelessness has long been sidelined by the Government, whose desire to be seen to be tough on immigration has meant that policy solutions to support migrants out of homelessness are often neglected. Yet the immigration and asylum systems are a direct cause of homelessness, pushing many into hardship and destitution and leaving services without the resources to provide meaningful support.
Homelessness among refugees has been escalating at a worrying rate. NACCOM’s annual survey data briefing 2023/2024 revealed a particularly sharp increase of 99% in homelessness amongst new refugees last year, while Government homelessness data also highlights a steep rise in migrants rough sleeping in 2024.
In our joint policy briefing, Vital Solutions to Ending Migrant Homelessness, supported by over 80 leading organisations working to address migrant homelessness, we highlight how new refugees are made vulnerable to homelessness during the 28-day move-on period, which does not give people enough time find alternative accommodation, employment, and access vital support including Universal Credit, before their asylum support is stopped and they are evicted from their accommodation. Research shows that this move-on period pushes many refugees into homelessness and rough sleeping, and places huge pressure on statutory homelessness and voluntary sector services.
People leaving asylum accommodation after a refusal on their claim are also particularly vulnerable to homelessness, having just 21 days until their support is stopped, as documented by NACCOM’s 2023 report, ‘Refused?’.
After years of campaigning for the move-on period to be extended to 56 days (in line with the Homelessness Reduction Act), we welcomed the Government’s December 2024 announcement to implement a temporary extension for those with a positive decision until June 2025. Longer move-on offers refugees a more reasonable timeframe to navigate a challenging transition, secure housing, access welfare support, and start rebuilding their lives.
Evidence from NACCOM’s frontline members indicates that the 56-day move-on has been a lifeline for new refugees, and had a positive impact for the service providers supporting people through it. Members have described significant improvements in mental health of the people they are working with, with the longer period buying more time to secure housing and alleviating some of the stress this causes. Frontline services have described being able to move beyond operating solely in crisis mode andreport being better able to offer high-quality, person-centered support following a positive asylum decision.
More needs to be done
As evaluation of the move-on period continues, there is a valuable opportunity to make the case for a permanent extension to 56 days. It’s also vital that this applies to everyone exiting the asylum system, which would help to stop the flow of people into homelessness.
However, this is just one important step towards addressing migrant homelessness. Even with the 56-day extension, many people still face daunting obstacles, including delays and errors in documentation; lack of integration between services; an ongoing legal aid crisis; barriers to navigating new systems; as well as restricted access to statutory support for those refused asylum. Without addressing these systemic issues, the extension will fall short of its full potential. We urge the Government to go further, by committing to tackle migrant homelessness through the forthcoming cross-departmental strategy for ending homelessness.
In Vital Solutions, we demonstrate that a cross-departmental, coordinated response at both a national and local level is needed. We also outline reforms to ensure that immigration policy helps to prevent and end homelessness for all, alongside greater collaboration with housing, welfare, and voluntary and statutory services, and improved recourse to justice through our legal systems.
Our immediate recommendations
- While developing a comprehensive move-on process, the government must, in the short term, work more effectively with local authorities and key voluntary and community sector services.
- Refugees should receive all key documents together, enabling them to plan effectively. Clear escalation routes must be in place for resolving delays or errors, with asylum support extended when documentation issues arise.
- Any evaluation of the trial must consider broader systemic challenges, including the housing crisis, overstretched local services, and eVisa system barriers.
- People with lived experience of the asylum system must play a key role in the design and evaluation of any new processes.
- The 56-day move-on period must be made permanent and extended to all people leaving asylum accommodation, including those refused asylum, who currently have a 21-day move-on period, and those who have had their asylum claims withdrawn.
Longer-term recommendations
- The government must work with local authorities, migrant sector and homelessness sector providers to develop a co-ordinated and integrated move-on process that looks to prevent homelessness wherever possible.
- Grant people seeking asylum the right to work after six months.
- Expand the Homelessness Reduction Act’s Duty to Refer to include the Home Office.
People with lived experience of the asylum system must play a key role in the design and evaluation of any new processes, and we’ll be working with NACCOM’s Community Researchers to propose solutions to migrant destitution that centre the needs and insights of those with experience of destitution and immigration control.
Community is a superpower
We believe that everyone deserves to live with dignity and agency as a part of their community. This Refugee Week, we are sending a clear signal that the immigration and asylum systems are a direct cause of homelessness and outlining powerful solutions for change.
