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NHF and CIH call on ministers to end rules blocking migrants from accessing benefits
Two major housing bodies have called on the government to end permanently rules preventing some migrants from accessing state support in order to help former rough sleepers into long-term homes.
In a letter to homelessness minister Luke Hall this week, the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) and the National Housing Federation (NHF) said no recourse to public funds (NRPF) conditions attached to some people’s immigration statuses are “serious obstacles” to getting them into secure accommodation.
NRPF – often applied where asylum applications have been refused – bars individuals from accessing housing and benefits.
However, councils still have statutory duties to try to prevent NRPF families or people with care needs from becoming homeless or destitute, and it is thought that large numbers of rough sleepers given emergency accommodation during the coronavirus pandemic are subject to the condition.
Nearly 15,000 rough sleepers or those at risk were placed in hotels following the COVID-19 outbreak in March and the government is now taking bids for a £226m fund for its Next Steps Accommodation Programme.
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In the letter, the CIH and the NHF said they are “extremely concerned” that at least a fifth of former rough sleepers – or up to half in London – could end up “falling through the net” because of their NRPF status.
“This produces a continuing risk to the health of the individuals involved, as well as creating additional risk for the population at large,” it added.
“Therefore, we propose that the government considers restoring access to public funds on a permanent basis, regardless of immigration status, to build on the brilliant work to end rough sleeping during this pandemic.”
NRPF restrictions should be lifted “at least for a year” to “enable interim help to be given to all those experiencing and at risk of homelessness” and provide time for a longer-term solution to be found.
“The government has made huge strides in protecting rough sleepers and those vulnerable to homelessness during the pandemic,” said Gavin Smart, chief executive of the CIH.
“It’s vital that we build on the progress we’ve made so far as we emerge from lockdown.”
Kate Henderson, chief executive of the NHF, said: “The coronavirus crisis has reminded us all just how important a secure, stable home is.
“We should all be proud of the work done so far to put a roof over the heads of thousands of rough sleepers and other homeless people.
“But it is difficult to say that there will be no return to rough sleeping while so many are unable to access public support.”
The Local Government Association and a number of charities have previously made similar calls, as have two select committees of MPs.
A government spokesperson said: “Our rough sleeping taskforce has one overriding objective – to ensure as many people as possible who have been brought in off the streets in this pandemic do not return to sleeping rough.
“Councils are able to provide emergency accommodation for foreign nationals where they are in the UK lawfully, even where they are classified as having no recourse to public funds and they can access many of the measures introduced to support the most vulnerable in our society during this crisis.”
