The high-profile programme to disperse asylum seekers across the country has got off to such a slow start that councils have accommodated less than a quarter of the anticipated number
Although more than 4,000 homes have been offered by council consortia across the country just 600 cases have been dispersed since early December.

The programme was originally intended to cope with 2,500 cases a month. But officials say there is a dire lack of accommodation for families, and two consortia, Wales and East of England, have yet to offer any homes at all.

Glasgow, which was not meant to be in the scheme until April, has offered 650 properties, the second highest in UK after Yorkshire and Humberside which has offered 1,100 units.

A Home Office spokesman said: "We appreciate the work that the LGA has done on encouraging local authorities to provide accommodation. But there is more that could be done. There are some authorities which have yet to contribute."

But the Local Government Association, which is running the scheme to ease pressure on housing authorities in the south east, attempted to put a brave face on the figures, insisting it was "encouraged" by the response.

And Refugee Council chief executive Nick Hardwick said: "Given the impossible task they have been set, local authorities have responded very positively."

Responsibility for the dispersal scheme transfers to the Home Office in April, and the LGA is concerned that unless the voluntary scheme is more successful the government may make it compulsory.

Chair of the LGA asylum seeker task group Len Duvall said: "As with any scheme of this scope, initial teething problems were experienced over practical matters such as transport. However on the whole these appear to have been resolved."

Source

Housing Today