Up to 1,000 asylum seekers in Birmingham face homelessness in the lead-up to Christmas this year - an unprecedented number according to a cabinet member. The figure is typically what Birmingham City Council would expect to deal with over three years or more, said Coun Jayne Francis.
The cabinet member for housing and homelessness said the authority was informed "an estimated 1,000 asylum seekers" would leave Home Office-supported accommodation between August 1 and December 31, 2023. Many of those refugees will "seek assistance" from the council, added Coun Francis.
It means the cash-strapped authority now also faces a homelessness crisis - with many refugees who have fled war-torn countries needing to find suitable accommodation to avoid rough sleeping. Coun Francis said it will "put enormous strain on housing during what is already a difficult time".
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She added: "This is unprecedented. It is equivalent to the number we typically see over three or more years and puts enormous strain on housing during what is already a difficult time due to the cost of living crisis. During which, we have been able to make progress in our homeless support services for people by focusing on prevention.
"However, the government’s decision to increase volumes of decisions to this level without due notice and risk mitigation will undermine this work and, without doubt, will lead to a rise in homelessness over both the immediate and longer term, in Birmingham and elsewhere in the UK."
Coun Francis blamed "huge delays" from the Government in processing asylum claims. She said the council and its partners would "address the issue as best we can" to ensure refugees can settle in Birmingham.
"These refugees will have been fleeing from horror and persecution, and as City of Sanctuary since 2015, Birmingham will continue to do all it can to provide support and a welcome to these vulnerable people," she said.
The Government previously said the use of hotels in the asylum system was costing taxpayers £6million-a-day. BirminghamLive has contacted the Home Office for further comment.
