The government has announced a new package of £35 million to help local councils in the UK move Afghan refugees from hotels into permanent housing.
It comes after the Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer said the £1 million daily cost of housing around 8,000 Afghan refugees, half of them children, is unsustainable.
Under new plans announced today (28 March), families housed in hotels will be written to at the end of April, and will be told they have 'at least three months notice' before they are forced out, the PA news agency reports.
READ MORE: Concerns refugees could be pushed into homelessness under government plans
"This will crystallise a reasonable timeframe in the minds of our Afghan friends – with significant support from central and local government at every step as required, together with their existing access to welfare and the right to work – to find good, settled places to live in the longer term," Mr Mercer said.
A number of hotels in Greater Manchester have been used to house refugees fleeing persecution after the Taliban regime took over the country, following the fall of Kabul in 2021.
Mr Mercer promised “generous” support to help Afghan families into settled accommodation, with trained staff based in hotels to provide advice on finding work, new homes and English lessons.
Some £35 million of new funding will help local councils provide increased support to help people move from hotels into accommodation across England, while the local authority housing fund will be expanded by £250 million, with most of the cash going to house Afghans and the rest easing homelessness pressures.
"Long-term residency in hotels has prevented some Afghans from properly putting down roots, committing to employment, integrating into communities and (is) creating uncertainty as they look to rebuild their lives in the United Kingdom long term," Mr Mercer said in the Commons.
He acknowledged there is a debt owed to Afghans who assisted British forces during the war and upheld British values.
"There are veterans across this country enjoying normal lives today because of the service and sacrifice of this cohort in keeping them safe in Afghanistan," the former army officer said.
Labour called on the Government to ensure no Afghans would be made homeless when they are served 'eviction notices' from hotel accommodation.
Shadow defence secretary John Healey told the Commons: "Never mind Operation Warm Welcome, never mind the warm words from the minister today. He has confirmed the Government is giving them the cold shoulder.
"He is serving eviction notices on 8,000 Afghans, half of whom are children, with no guarantee they will be offered a suitable, settled place to live."
Responding to the Government announcement, a spokesperson for the Local Government Association said: "Councils share ambitions to move people from hotels and will continue to work closely with individuals and families over the coming months with local partners to help Afghan families find permanent homes.
"To ensure we do not see a further rise in homelessness as a result of a chronic shortage of properties across the UK and increase current significant pressures on homelessness teams, councils will need sufficient resources and flexibilities to assist with finding and funding accommodation, particularly for larger families. A place based approach is also needed which takes into account pressures on local services and from other programmes."
READ NEXT:
- Fashion and Beauty fans rush to ASOS as £180 items are reduced to £35 in wake of Amazon Spring sale
- Primark's £9 Summer sandals look a lot like designer £365 Chloé mules, apparently
- ASDA's new Easter-themed pizza has shoppers confused
- Sir David Jason united with daughter, 52, he didn't know existed
- 'Very young, very stupid' teens who terrorised suburbia and stole luxury cars avoid jail
