Dorset council is the latest to appeal to landlords to house Afghan refugees who are in this country having helped UK ad allied forces before the Taliban takeover.
The Dorset authority has pledged to support a scheme, which is being funded by the UK government, to rehouse refugees - but it’s insisting that it will not use social housing, intended for Dorset families on the housing register or for people who are homeless.
The council is instead seeking offers of additional privately owned, self-contained accommodation to house families under this scheme.
The authority is looking for a range of homes of varying sizes, particularly larger family homes that are available for at least 12 months.
These need to be self-contained houses or flats. Offers of spare rooms or house-sharing cannot be considered as part of this scheme.
Councillor Graham Carr-Jones, Dorset council’s portfolio holder for Housing and Community Safety, says: “Everyone will have seen the heart-breaking and distressing events currently unfolding in Afghanistan and Dorset council is supporting the government’s scheme to resettle eligible families safely in the UK.
“People are asking how they can help. The single thing we need right now is offers of suitable accommodation, but this needs to be balanced with existing high levels of demand for housing in our area.
“That’s why we are specifically looking for private landlords or owners of second homes to come forward rather than asking social housing providers.
“I am acutely aware of the demand for emergency accommodation for local families on our housing register and in temporary accommodation. I want to reassure people in this situation that they will not be disadvantaged by the work we are doing to help the government resettle Afghan families.”
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This should hopefully allay the fears of the many bigots who believe the refugees are ‘taking our houses’. We owe these brave people so much and the least we can do is support them in their new lives. Unfortunately the ignorant, racist portion of our society is concerned how this might affect them rather than offering wholehearted support. The Govt is providing extra money, the PRS is being asked to offer housing so let’s welcome these people into our communities and show them the Best of British.
I would rather have these people as tenants than lazy benefit claiming workshy British couch potatoes and their feral children.
The Western world doesn't ' Owe ' them nothing. They should move to neighbouring Muslim countries. like Pakistan and Iran
Wokes would have you believe differently.
The majority of the population are waking up to immigration figures and our already overburdened Housing and other public services.
As long as they give priority to house the existing population first , I have no problem with immigration at all . I doubt many of us can truly claim to be true English if you go back a few generations … if there is such a thing in the first place
Personally I blame the incompetent and corrupt government and their equally useless overpaid overstaffed councils , not the immigrants who are being used like a political football. Disgraceful really .
A desperate situation for anyone to be caught in war zone, 20m killed in First World War, 60m in the second mankind never learns, mans inhumanity to man. There will be many innocent people caught up in it, others used for political purpose and all need help, no use blaming individuals it’s a bit like an illegitimate child it’s not the Child’s fault.
Regarding housing them from what I can deduce from this article, Social housing or shared housing not going to be used. So there is an opportunity for LL’s to avoid HMO Licensing Schemes compliance and house those people with guaranteed Government Rent, as all HMO’s are shared accommodation.
'' Guaranteed '' government rent ?? who are you kidding Micheal I wouldn't trust the government no further than I can spit.
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