Thousands of newly recognised refugees have been granted a last-minute reprieve from being made homeless this Christmas, following a significant intervention by the UK High Court.
Court Order Halts Imminent Evictions
The court has mandated the Home Office to instruct its caseworkers to double the 'move-on' period for evictions from 28 days to 56 days for anyone at imminent risk of street homelessness. This urgent order, agreed on Wednesday, is estimated to prevent around 3,000 individuals from being forced onto the streets in the coming weeks, just as winter weather sets in.
This decision comes after the government controversially reverted to a 28-day notice period at the end of August, despite running a successful year-long pilot of the 56-day scheme. Charities and human rights groups had warned that the shorter period gave people granted refugee status an impossibly short timeframe to secure housing, employment, benefits, or education.
A System Pushing People into Destitution
Campaigners have long argued that 28 days is wholly inadequate for someone to rebuild their life after receiving their status. Bridget Young, director of NACCOM (No Accommodation Network), stated the evidence clearly shows the longer period is necessary. "It is unconscionable that we could have seen a surge of people made street homeless in the lead-up to Christmas," she said.
The human cost of the policy was starkly illustrated by the case of a 19-year-old Eritrean refugee, who has been sleeping under a bush in north London for over two months after his eviction. Despite a perilous journey to safety, including enslavement in Libya, he found himself destitute after his local council deemed him not in "priority need."
A Temporary Fix with Calls for Permanent Change
While the court order provides critical short-term relief, it is not a permanent solution. The extended 56-day period will only apply until 16 January and only to those who can prove they face imminent rough sleeping. It does not help those already evicted and on the streets.
Ahmed Aydeed of Deighton Pierce Glynn solicitors, who brought the legal challenge, welcomed the move but highlighted its limitations. "This order will help save lives," he said. "No one should be forced into destitution and street homelessness, especially during this extreme winter weather."
The British Red Cross reported a significant drop in refugee homelessness during the pilot scheme, proving the efficacy of the longer grace period. Over 60 NGOs had protested the return to 28 days. Campaigners are now united in urging the government to make the 56-day move-on period permanent, arguing it is the bare minimum required to give people a genuine chance to find a safe and secure home after being granted sanctuary.
The Home Office has been approached for comment on the court's ruling and its future policy.
