3 November 2023: Big Issue: ‘We’re living in a nightmare’: Iraqi refugee family evicted into homelessness has lost ‘all sense of safety’ in UK
By Christmas, thousands of people granted asylum to legally remain in Britain could be on the streets. Our investigation reveals a government-made crisis for councils teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, with a fearsome human cost
The Big Issue’s investigation found:
- The UK’s biggest cities expect at least 6,900 people to be evicted from asylum accommodation by the end of the year, with little capacity to help them.
- In London, the change in policy has already led to a doubling in the number of rough sleepers who have recently left asylum accommodation, while Manchester has seen a significant increase.
- Facing unprecedented demand, voluntary services are running out of food, turning destitute refugees away, and resorting to handing out sleeping bags.
- Leaders of local government are writing to ministers, outlining concern and asking for changes in the policy.