NACCOM’s latest Annual Survey data reveals thousands of people in the asylum and immigration system experienced destitution and homelessness last year.
Latest figures from NACCOM show that 3,724 people were accommodated by the network last year (2022-2023).
The data reveals a sharp rise in the number of people in the asylum and immigration system needing some form of support from charities to meet their basic needs.
There was also a big increase in the number of people with refugee status being accommodated by the network.
Despite ongoing challenges, including the cost of living crisis, frontline charities are left to provide a vital safety net to people when statutory support fails or is withdrawn.
NACCOM has published new data that highlights how thousands of people in the UK asylum and immigration system were forced to endure homelessness and destitution last year.
Our Annual Survey captures data from our members that provide frontline services to people in the UK asylum and wider immigration system. The yearly data maps the scale and impact of homelessness and destitution experienced by people the NACCOM network supports across a 12-month period, as well as the burden placed on frontline charities who have to step in when people are unable to access statutory support.
The data, which relates to the period between April 2022 to March 2023*, reveals a devastating picture of an asylum and immigration system that routinely leaves people without stable accommodation and unable to meet their basic needs as they try to resolve their immigration status. Overall, 3,724 people were accommodated by the NACCOM network during this time – 62% more than last year – with 1,103 of those having little to no access to statutory support due to their immigration status. During the year, 3,812 people were given financial support by charities to alleviate their destitution.
The data is especially significant in a year when charities are facing enormous challenges to their service delivery due to the cost of living crisis, with a difficult funding landscape and additional financial need amongst service users all placing extra burdens on member service delivery. The ongoing war in Ukraine, and the UK’s response via the Homes for Ukraine scheme, also continued to impact members, particularly in relation to host recruitment.
Despite this, NACCOM members still delivered a collective 479,474 nights of accommodation across the 12-month period – representing a 44% increase on 2021-2022.
The figures also highlight the burden placed on frontline organisations delivering accommodation and support services to people under immigration control, with charities providing a vital safety net to people who fell through gaps in Government support.
This was particularly notable in the increase in the number of people with refugee status who were accommodated by the network, which rose by 50% compared to last year, underlining the urgent need for improved policies and support pathways to prevent homelessness and destitution.
Whilst this year’s data reflects the impact of some of the major trends and policy shifts of the past year, it does not capture some profound recent changes that fall outside the survey period, but which have had a powerful impact on members’ service provision during 2023. For example, the Government’s change of procedure for ending asylum support has resulted in a huge increase in refugee homelessness, creating further pressure and capacity issues for members – the impact of which will be more fully seen and understood in next year’s survey
- *NACCOM has 132 members; 66 Full Members that offer accommodation services, 66 Associate Members that offer support services. A total of 89 members responded to this year’s Annual Survey – 73% of Full Members and 62% of Associate Members. NACCOM members were asked to submit data for a 12-month period between April 2022 and June 2023.
The key data explained
3,724 people experiencing destitution were accommodated by the network across the reporting period, with at least 479,474 nights of accommodation provided by NACCOM members.
2,080 of those accommodated had restricted or no access to public funds (No Recourse to Public Funds) or had refugee status.
Of the above;
- 790 were people who had been refused asylum and were Appeal Rights Exhausted (ARE).
- 977 had refugee status. The number of refugee adults accommodated increased sharply (by 50% compared to 2021/2022, up from 652), making this group the largest group accommodated by the network for the first time since 2017-2018.
1,305 people were rough sleeping, or in informal or insecure accommodation, directly before approaching charities for support. More than three quarters of this number (76%) were subsequently accommodated by the network.
3,812 people were given financial support during the year, with 2,576 of those not being accommodated by members at the time.
The network is agile – but at capacity. Whilst the network was able to grow to meet additional demand and support, 2,261 people could not be accommodated by members – more than double last year’s total of 1,107.
Bridget Young, NACCOM’s Director, commented: “Our data exposes the scale of need in the asylum and immigration system, with people forced to endure months and sometimes years of hardship, unable to meet even their most basic of needs because they are being locked out of statutory support, including homelessness support.”
“No one should have to face homelessness and destitution at any time, but for thousands of people in the asylum and immigration system, this is the inevitable outcome that awaits them as they try to resolve their immigration status.”
“It also clearly highlights the vital role of our frontline members, who step in to provide vital accommodation and support to people in the most challenging of contexts when Government support fails them.”
“NACCOM stands in solidarity with members and people in the asylum and immigration system, and will continue to advocate for policies that will end destitution, and enable people to live in dignity and with agency.”
