FOI Request - New Refugees and Housing

Request 101003423555

1.  The number of ‘new refugees’ who applied to the Council for housing in 2022?

2.  The number of ‘new refugees’ who presented as homeless to the Council in 2022?

3.  The number of ‘new refugees who have applied to the Council for housing in 2023 (up until today’s date)?

4.  The number of ‘new refugees’ who have presented as homeless to the Council in 2023 (up until today’s date)?

5.  Does your Council have an estimate of the number of ‘new refugees’ who will approach you for housing behind today’s date and the end of 2023?

For the purposes of the FOI, ‘new refugees’ has been defined as asylum seekers who have recently received a positive decision on their asylum application, granting them refugee or humanitarian status to remain in the UK.

Response 24-11-2023

1. 16

2. 7

3. 17 (as at 15/11/2023)

4. 12 (as at 15/11/2023)

5. We have a hotel within our area which is currently being used by Mears to accommodate 48 asylum seekers who are awaiting a decision on their applications to be granted refugee status. We understand that the Home Office is seeking to roll out a policy of maximisation of accommodation; accordingly, this number may increase in the coming weeks. It is unknown how many of these residents will wish to remain in Moray and apply to us for housing.