You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles
Councils call for no recourse to public funds suspension
Councils have called on the government to suspend rules blocking some migrants from accessing benefits, warning they are preventing potential rough sleepers from getting help.
The Local Government Association (LGA) said the ‘no recourse to public funds’ (NRPF) condition should be lifted for the duration of the coronavirus crisis.
NRPF is a condition placed on some migrants as part of their leave to remain in the UK – often if their application for asylum has been refused – which prevents them from accessing housing or other welfare benefits.
But councils still have statutory duties to try to prevent NRPF families or people with care needs from becoming homeless or destitute.
A high number of people with NRPF have been approaching councils for housing support after losing their jobs because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the LGA claimed.
Suspending their rule which bars these people from claiming benefits could prevent them from becoming homeless, it added.
READ MORE
In March, the government told councils to provide all rough sleepers and people in hostels with emergency accommodation to help protect them from the virus, including those with NRPF.
David Renard, housing spokesperson for the LGA and leader of Swindon Council, said: “Councils are now planning their next steps in supporting people to move on from emergency accommodation.
“This needs to include clarity and funding for those who are destitute and homeless because of their migration status.
“As the economy recovers, local outbreaks may mean there still may be a need to be able to access safe and suitable accommodation and financial support to allow for self-isolation, particularly for single adults without care needs who are not usually eligible for social services’ support.
“This could be enabled by a temporary removal of the NRPF condition, which would reduce public health risks and pressures on homelessness services by enabling vulnerable people to access welfare benefits.”
The £3.2bn allocated to councils to deal with pressures arising from the pandemic, including housing people with NRPF, will not be enough to ensure some do not return to the streets, the LGA warned.
Ministers must also clarify what support will be available to councils to help them move those placed in emergency accommodation into permanent homes, it added.
In a recent letter to councils, homelessness minister Luke Hall said the law around NRPF “remains in place”.
A group of charities previously called on the government to remove barriers to housing rough sleepers, including NRPF rules.
Labour has also demanded changes to the rules in light of the pandemic.
