The UK asylum system is under fire for administrative inefficiencies and inadequate housing conditions, leading to a surge in homelessness among refugees.
By June 2023, over 16,500 refugees leaving asylum accommodation were homeless—four times the number in 2022.
Rights groups have criticized the Mears Group, a major contractor, for unsafe living conditions, including mold, damp, and fire risks. Despite earning £1 billion since 2020, Mears defends its performance, citing rising demand.
Key issues include delays in issuing vital documents like biometric residence permits, which are crucial for housing and employment. Policy changes to the “move-on period” have worsened the crisis by evicting refugees before they secure support.
Advocates, calling the situation a “national scandal,” urge the government to replace private contractors with publicly managed housing to prioritize refugee welfare.
The Home Affairs Committee has launched an inquiry into the asylum accommodation system, as costs have risen from £739 million in 2019 to £4.7 billion in 2023. The inquiry aims to improve housing conditions and address systemic failures.
