The Local Government Association (LGA) has issued a warning that the shortage of housing in the UK, coupled with extensive waiting lists, could lead to approximately 8,000 Afghan asylum

seekers becoming homeless.

According to the LGA, the Home Office has notified Afghan asylum seekers to vacate their temporary bridging hotels by the end of August. While they have been provided with information about available support to assist them in finding their own housing, the LGA cautioned that the limited timeframe, along with the scarcity of housing nationwide, is making it challenging for local councils to secure accommodation in time.

The announcement comes as the LGA holds its annual conference in Bournemouth, where it calls on the government to enhance its engagement with councils and acknowledge the complexities they face. The issues highlighted include the funding of councils for their assistance to Ukrainian households, proposed changes to councils' roles and responsibilities under the Illegal Migration Bill, and the strain on local services due to the rapid increase in new arrivals.

In his inaugural speech at the annual conference on Tuesday, the newly appointed LGA chairman, Shaun Davies, is expected to emphasize that councils have reached a "crisis point." He will affirm the historical commitment of councils to support asylum seekers and refugees in settling in the UK and rebuilding their lives. However, he will stress that the combined pressures from government asylum and resettlement schemes are overwhelming councils.

Davies will express the desire to collaborate with the government to address this issue effectively, not only to provide the best support for individuals arriving in the UK but also to alleviate the unsustainable burdens on local services and communities. Photo by Fancy Roof on the Home Office by Des Blenkinsopp, Wikimedia commons.