Court halts evictions of thousands of refugees in run-up to Christmas

The high court has halted evictions of thousands of new refugees who were at risk of spending Christmas on the streets.

- Diane Taylor

Concern had been mounting among lawyers and human rights campaigners that this group could find themselves rough sleeping within days of celebrating being granted refugee status.

Thanks to a pilot scheme the Home Office launched a year ago, asylum seekers had their move-on period from government accommodation extended from 28 days to 56 days after being granted refugee status. Campaigners say 28 days is not long enough for people to sort their lives out and find new accommodation, a job, benefits or study opportunities.

Many, including the British Red Cross, reported a significant fall in the numbers of street homeless people when the move-on period was doubled. But at the end of August, the government decided to revert to giving 28 days’ notice before evictions, leading to protests from more than 60 nongovernmental organisations.