New briefing on homelessness amongst non-UK nationals | by Homeless Link

Homeless Link has published a new policy briefing paper on barriers and pathways to homelessness support for non-UK nationals who are prevented from accessing state-funded support. The briefing explores how the Government’s Everyone In scheme, launched at the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic, represented the first time that England had attempted a local authority-led universal homelessness response. The results for non-UK national homelessness were remarkable, but the measures were temporary.

Facing up to homelessness among non-UK nationals: the challenge and opportunity since ‘Everyone In’ makes the case for the inclusion of people with immigration-based eligibility restrictions in mainstream homelessness systems for good, and outlines good practice pathways to make this possible. 

NACCOM’s Community Researchers, a group of people who have lived experience of immigration control and destitution, contributed their experiences to the briefing. In a joint blog with Homeless Link, they shared their reflections on accessing Local Authority support during the Covid-19 crisis. 

The Community Researchers and Homeless Link research found that whilst ‘Everyone In’ opened the doors to accessing accommodation for the first time for many people facing NRPF (in England), there were also examples where people were refused access to accommodation by the Local Authority despite the government directions.