Glasgow is moving towards a pause on asylum seekers from being housed in the city as it already faces a homelessness crisis. First Minister John Swinney has supported the call for the temporary halt, describing it as “fair”. He echoed the local council’s request for a pause but defended Scotland’s liberal homelessness laws.
Glasgow is home to over 90% of asylum seekers in Scotland due to the city’s long-standing policy of aiding those fleeing persecution. This policy is managed by the Home Office, which assigns the private sector firm Mears with the task of finding accommodation. However, the council is grappling with a £66 million deficit due to an increase in homelessness applications from refugees granted leave to remain.
Council leaders blame the UK Government’s policy of trying to clear out asylum seeker hotels, which they claim has led to a refugee homelessness crisis.
In a Sky News interview ahead of the SNP conference in Aberdeen, the First Minister suggested that a pause for Glasgow would be a “fair and reasonable approach”.
When asked if he supports a pause, he said “that’s not what the Home Office are proposing, and I think that has got to be put in place”. Scotland’s generous homelessness laws are also being examined for their impact on Glasgow.
Refugees have had a long-standing right to apply for homeless assistance in Scotland, even if they have been granted leave to remain in England.
The SNP government also altered the rules so that individuals who are homeless in one part of Scotland can seek help in another council area.
In England, local authorities provide housing for those in “priority need”, but Scottish regulations extend to anyone who is unintentionally homeless.
Mr Swinney, commenting on whether the law exacerbates the problem, stated that Scotland has always adopted a “sympathetic” approach, adding: “I think our homelessness approach is the right approach”.
Data obtained by the Record revealed that Glasgow continues to assist asylum seekers more than any other region north of the border. For every 10,000 residents, Glasgow provides housing for 58 asylum seekers, while Edinburgh’s figure stands at three.