Councils Housing More Asylum Seekers Than Homeless People Amid Outrage

Nineteen council areas in England are accommodating more than ten times as many asylum seekers as households experiencing homelessness, according to an analysis of government data. The largest disparity was recorded in Hyndburn, Lancashire, where 423 asylum seekers were housed, compared to just 14 homeless households in temporary accommodation.

This situation has intensified public outcry, particularly following the case of a heavily pregnant, homeless woman in Glasgow who was reportedly refused emergency accommodation by the city council. The woman, 34 weeks pregnant and fleeing an abusive relationship, was allegedly told by council officials that her unborn baby had no human rights and was subsequently housed temporarily by the charity Homeless Project Scotland.

Critics of the UK's asylum system have pointed to this data and specific incidents as evidence that the system is having a detrimental impact on the support available to the most vulnerable citizens. Home Office data indicates that over 74,000 asylum seekers were housed across England as of June, while 123,000 homeless households were in temporary accommodation as of March. However, direct comparisons are complicated by differing data collection methods for homeless households and individual asylum seekers.

Robert Bates, Research Director at the Centre for Migration Control, stated that the pregnant woman's case is symptomatic of a perceived two-tiered approach, suggesting that asylum seekers are prioritized over British citizens facing hardship. "The political class have at every turn prioritised illegal migrants over British citizens," Bates told the Daily Mail. "Tens of thousands of asylum seekers are instantly found accommodation in hotels and HMOs whilst many Brits who have fallen on hard times are left to fend for themselves."

Homeless Project Scotland highlighted the pregnant woman's plight after she arrived at their Glasgow shelter on September 29. Volunteers claim that the council's out-of-hours service initially advised her to return to London and that she was told she would have to sleep on the streets. The charity reported that the woman remained in their care for over a week.

Another case shared by the charity involved a homeless man with one leg and in a wheelchair who was denied emergency accommodation after midnight due to a lack of accessible facilities. Glasgow City Council is reportedly reviewing the pregnant woman's case.

Government figures show Glasgow houses over 3,700 asylum seekers, representing more than half of Scotland's total. Between April and September last year, the city received 3,895 homelessness support applications, with 43% from individuals with refugee status or leave to remain.

Under current UK law, asylum seekers are entitled to Home Office-provided housing while their claim is processed. If granted refugee status, councils become responsible for their housing if they cannot accommodate themselves. However, councils use a priority system for allocating housing, considering factors like children and vulnerability. Asylum seekers also receive taxpayer-funded healthcare and education for their children.

Some critics argue that homeless individuals, who have often paid council tax for years, are being disadvantaged compared to asylum seekers. There have been instances where local authorities have booked entire hotels for homeless individuals, only to be outbid by Home Office contractors seeking accommodation for asylum seekers.

In response, a government spokesperson stated that asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing and do not receive preferential treatment on housing waiting lists. The government aims to close all asylum hotels by the end of the current parliamentary term, a process they claim has already saved taxpayers £1 billion. Alternative accommodation, including former military sites, is being utilized to minimize the impact on local communities.