New Asylum Accommodation Centres prevent integration

New Asylum Accommodation Centres prevent integration

Accommodation Centres for people seeking asylum, proposed in the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill published today, will prevent them from successfully integrating into society, according to the housing charity Shelter. Highlighting that the majority of people seeking asylum will still be dispersed through the National Asylum Support Service, Shelter also emphasised the importance of access to good quality accommodation. Many have been housed in emergency accommodation of the lowest quality.

Chris Holmes, Director of Shelter, said: “Shelter does not support the proposal to pilot accommodation centres. It is essential that people seeking asylum are given opportunities to integrate into communities. It is also important to remember that most people seeking asylum are dispersed into communities through the NASS system and these people must have access to good quality housing. Many have been housed in appalling accommodation since they arrived in Britain”

Shelter also expressed concern for those who are granted refugee status or leave to remain. Chris Holmes said: “ It still remains uncertain who has a duty to provide support to those whose applications for asylum are successful. People leaving accommodation centres will have no connection to a local area. Ministers must clarify when a local authority has a duty to accommodate someone who have been granted refugee status or leave to remain.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS
Spokespeople are available for interview
Shelter’s ISDN Line is 020 7251 2790
For more information about Shelter visit www.shelter.org.uk
Shelter is a campaigning charity that every year works with over 100,000 homeless or badly housed people and runs Shelterline, the UK’s free, 24 hour, national housing advice line on 0808 800 4444

Source: http://www.shelter.org.uk/