Thousands of refugees could be made homeless in UK’s asylum backlog clearance

Red Cross warns 28-day move-on' process is not enough time for asylum seekers to find new accommodation

More than 50,000 refugees in the UK could be made homeless by the end of the year unless ministers take urgent steps to support them as it clears the asylum backlog, the British Red Cross has warned.

The government has pledged to process all legacy" asylum applications - made before 28 June 2022 - by the end of the year. Based on those currently in asylum accommodation the charity estimates that 53,100 refugees will be at risk of homelessness if the government meets its target.