Housing injustice facing migrants, sanctuary seekers and trafficking survivors intensifies at transition points
Poor housing conditions and insecure living arrangements are significant challenges facing vulnerable migrants, those in the asylum system and survivors of trafficking. These challenges are exacerbated when these groups transition between and within systems, worsening their ability to access secure housing options, new research shows.
The report, conducted by housing and migration specialist Professor Phil Brown and commissioned by Commonweal Housing, explores the housing injustice faced by migrant groups, people seeking sanctuary – refugees and asylum seekers – and survivors of human trafficking. It highlights the challenges these groups encounter accessing settled accommodation amid a shortfall of affordable housing and financial barriers stemming from low income or unemployment.
Through interviews with stakeholders across local government and organisations in the asylum and trafficking sectors, the research identifies the specific cohorts and key areas housing insecurity is most prevalent. The report is launched in conjunction with Commonweal’s Call for New Ideas programme, inviting the sector to bring forward ideas to tackle the housing challenges facing these groups.
Transitions between and within systems, such as leaving asylum accommodation and the family reunification process, were identified as critical points that can lead to homelessness and poor living conditions, according to Brown’s report.
Individuals transitioning out of asylum accommodation after obtaining refugee status often experience homelessness due to unaffordable housing options in the private rented sector and a lack of social housing. This area is of particular concern, as refugee homelessness has risen by almost 350 percent, following the growing number of newly granted refugees needing to exiting asylum accommodation within a 28-day period.
Additionally, family reunification can lead to heightened housing pressures caused by overcrowding in their current homes, often requiring a move to temporary housing to accommodate family joiners.
The report also shows survivors of human trafficking entering and exiting the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) – the government’s system for identifying and supporting victims of modern slavery – often face periods of housing insecurity.
As highlighted by the Human Trafficking Foundation, both UK and non-UK nationals risk homelessness when escaping trafficking, as their housing is often tied to their exploitation. As such, inappropriate housing and inadequate support when fleeing exploitation puts survivors at risk of re-exploitation.
A lack of suitable safe accommodation options for survivors pre-NRM support means they are often placed in hotels for extended periods without support. In these cases, constrained living and communal accommodation results in survivors facing housing stress, poor health and wellbeing and re-exploitation.
There is also a shortage of appropriate and affordable housing options for survivors exiting NRM accommodation. This is made worse for survivors without priority need status for social housing and have No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) attached to their visa.
NRPF is a harsh condition that limits a person’s ability to access benefits and other types of financial support. Brown’s research found groups affected by NRPF – including survivors of trafficking, migrants and asylum seekers – encounter significant difficulty in securing housing. To combat this challenge, these cohorts often rely on support from voluntary and community organisations to navigate the immigration system.
In addition to identifying the housing injustices facing migrant groups, people seeking sanctuary and trafficking survivors, the report highlights the importance of community integration to accompany settled accommodation.
Stakeholders interviewed by Brown emphasised community or peer-to-peer-based support as essential to helping individuals successfully integrate into their new local area. They suggest that community navigators could play a crucial role in assisting individuals with adapting and settling into their new community, including understanding their rights, connecting them with healthcare, employment services and social networks.
In response to the learnings of this research, Commonweal’s Call for New Ideas programme invites frontline organisations to design and develop creative ideas for new housing and support models for vulnerable migrants, those in the asylum system and survivors of trafficking.
The charity is especially interested in ideas for housing projects that:
- Address transition points between and within systems that drive housing insecurity (such as asylum to refugee status, the NRM lifecycle, family reunification, etc.)
- Support survivors of trafficking, both non-UK and UK nationals.
- Demonstrate possible long term cost savings benefits for the government through focusing on community integration or employability support, as examples.
Successful applicants will be awarded between £5,000-£10,000 in grant funding to conduct a feasibility study to assess the viability of their proposed model. If the model proves viable, Commonweal will look to work in partnership with the organisation to deliver a multi-year property-based pilot project.
Commonweal is accepting Call for New Ideas applications between Monday 7th October until 5pm Monday 4th November.
Full details of the Call can be found on our website here >>
Read the report in full here >>
If you have any queries, please contact apply@commonweal.org.uk