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Glasgow Braces for Influx of Refugees Amid Home Office Crackdown on Hotel Stays

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Glasgow's housing emergency is poised to worsen as the Home Office has halved the time asylum seekers can stay in government accommodation, such as hotels, from 56 days to 28. This decision, effective September 1, will likely see Glasgow face severe problems as a key migrant destination in the country. Thousands of asylum seekers are expected to come to Scotland, as they have a legal right to be housed here that does not exist in England. Council chiefs and homeless charities are demanding more support from the government to mitigate the crisis.

Key Takeaways:

  • Glasgow City Council has spent £16.5 million in the past three months placing the homeless in hotels and B&Bs, with 1615 refugees granted leave to remain in the UK among 2242 people being housed in hotels and B&Bs.
  • The number of homeless people in Glasgow stands at a record 8530, with many expected to be made homeless due to the Home Office's new rules.
  • Families, pregnant women, those over 65, and the disabled will continue to be given 56 days until December, when the policy will be reviewed again.
  • The British and Scottish governments face calls to make Glasgow a special case and provide more funding to house refugees and alleviate the pressure on local authorities.
  • Charities fear that the reduced "move-on" period will increase levels of homelessness and destitution for people granted protection, with many expecting to be left destitute.
  • A refugee granted leave to remain must find somewhere to live within 28 days, or they will be evicted from Home Office accommodation, with many ending up declaring themselves homeless to councils like Glasgow.

Statistics:

  • £16.5 million: The amount Glasgow City Council spent in the past three months placing the homeless in hotels and B&Bs.
  • 79%: The proportion of people housed in hotels and B&Bs by Glasgow City Council who were refugees granted leave to remain in the UK.
  • 1615: The number of refugees granted leave to remain in the UK among 2242 people being housed in hotels and B&Bs in Glasgow.
  • 8530: The number of homeless people in Glasgow, including refugees granted leave to remain.
  • £110 million: The estimated overspend Glasgow City Council is expected to face in the next two years due to spiralling homelessness costs.
  • 18-month period: The time frame during which Scotland's homelessness laws are more liberal than other parts of the UK.

Sources:

  • [1] Norman Silvester, 'CRACKDOWN on hotel stays for asylum seekers will be "disastrous" for Scotland, council leader warns'
  • [2] Susan Aitken, Glasgow council leader
  • [3] Sean Clerkin, Scottish Tenants Organisation
  • [4] Alex Fraser, British Red Cross spokesperson
  • [5] Kaukab Stewart, Equalities Minister

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