Female beggar in London. Sitting on a bag, with a blanket round her legs and a blue hood and brown coat. A newspaper and litter is on the path as she rests with a hand out against a map as people walk past

Closing the gaps: Immigration status and homelessness

Article

Homelessness in England is on the rise, including among migrants and refugees.

Immigration status has become one of the clearest fault lines running through England’s housing and homelessness system. Around a quarter of people rough sleeping are non-UK nationals. The number of refugee households owed a homelessness duty has increased sevenfold since 2018/19. 

Drawing on interviews with people with lived experience across London, the North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, and the West Midlands, this report outlines how the challenges they face play out in practice.

We show how immigration status interacts with experiences of homelessness and destitution, and set out practical reforms to support people within the immigration system.

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