Homeless British Families Abandoned as Home Office Takes Over Housing for Asylum Seekers

Local councils across the UK are struggling to find housing for homeless families because the Home Office is taking over empty properties to house asylum seekers. This has created a serious issue, leaving many families with children in unsuitable and temporary living arrangements, such as bed and breakfast accommodations. 


As of now, nearly 6,000 families with children are living in bed and breakfasts because councils don’t have enough homes to offer. These temporary arrangements, which were meant to be short-term, are becoming long-term solutions for many, causing stress and hardship for the families involved. MPs have criticized this approach, calling it harmful, especially for children. Living in such conditions can affect their safety, health, and emotional well-being. 

 
The problem is worsened by the Home Office competing with local councils for housing. In many cases, the Home Office pays higher rents to secure properties for asylum seekers, leaving councils unable to afford them. This competition not only reduces the number of homes available for homeless families but also drives up local rent prices, making it harder for councils to meet the growing demand for affordable housing. 


Currently, 220 hotels across the UK are being used to house over 35,000 asylum seekers. The cost of this is enormous—£5.4 million per day—and it has increased significantly in recent years. The Government had planned to use larger facilities, such as former military bases, to house asylum seekers, but this idea was scrapped. Instead, they are now trying to find smaller properties across the country, which puts even more pressure on local housing. 

In January 2025 alone, over 1,000 migrants arrived in the UK by small boats, adding to the already stretched housing system. This influx has made it even harder for councils to cope, leading to more families being placed in temporary accommodations far from their local communities. 

 
Councils are now spending billions to provide temporary housing, often having to relocate families far from their home areas. Around 39,000 families have been moved to different parts of the country, with some being relocated from London to places like County Durham, Liverpool, and Sheffield. This creates additional challenges for families, such as difficulties accessing schools, jobs, and community support. 


MPs have described the housing situation as a crisis, blaming it on years of poor planning and a lack of affordable homes. They say the Government’s focus on short-term fixes, instead of long-term solutions, has left councils overwhelmed. Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Chair of the Commons Public Accounts Committee, criticized the lack of a clear strategy to address the issue, calling it unacceptable that so many families are living in unsuitable conditions. 


In response, the Government has announced a £1 billion plan to tackle homelessness and promised to build 1.5 million new homes, including social and affordable housing. They also plan to abolish “no-fault” evictions, which are one of the main reasons people lose their homes. 

However, critics argue that these measures will take years to make an impact, and more urgent action is needed now. MPs are calling for better cooperation between the Home Office and local councils to ensure families and asylum seekers can be housed without putting pressure on an already fragile housing system. 

The situation highlights the need for long-term investment in affordable housing, better planning, and a more balanced approach to managing the needs of both homeless families and asylum seekers. Without immediate action, the crisis is expected to worsen, leaving thousands of vulnerable families in unsuitable and stressful living conditions.