Asylum accommodation

The government has to by law provide support including accommodation to homeless asylum seekers while their asylum claims are being considered. The asylum system has been under significant pressures, and the government is using some hotels to provide temporary accommodation.

All accommodation in our area is found and managed by the government's Home Office department and their contractors. In Rushmoor and the rest of the southeast of England, the contractor is Clearsprings.

Asylum seekers

An asylum seeker is someone asking for legal recognition to be a refugee in another country, due to fleeing to escape persecution and human rights violations.

The majority of asylum seekers come from war torn countries or countries with a record of serious human rights violations.

In December 2024, there were 124,802 people in the UK asylum system. The most common origins for asylum seekers were in Asia. Pakistan and Afghanistan are the two leading nationalities.

Please visit the government's immigration system statistics for more information.

Who is at the hotel

There are different types of asylum accommodation, some of which are meant to be temporary (initial or contingency accommodation) and the other is more permanent (dispersal accommodation).

The hotel in Rushmoor is called initial or contingency accommodation. There are a mix of families, single men and women. 

Length of stay

Asylum seekers can stay in Home Office accommodation for a few days, months or years, until their asylum case has been decided. The Home Office manages and decides the number of asylum seekers housed at the hotel. They do not consult with us on it.

The Home Office aims to move asylum seekers to dispersal accommodation, which could be anywhere in the country, when accommodation becomes available.

We do not know how long the hotel will remain open for asylum seekers. The Home Office continues to assess the need to use the hotel on a regular basis.

Our role

We have no role in offering, procuring, or managing asylum accommodation.

Given the pressures on the asylum system, the Home Office and their contractors continue to look for asylum accommodation across the country.

When they find a property, they consult the local council and other local authorities to report on any concerns about the use of that property for asylum seekers.

The majority of the Home Office’s consultations since January 2023 have not led to new accommodation in Rushmoor. However, the Home Office can still buy or rent a property for asylum use, in spite of any local concerns about it.

Funding for asylum seekers

The Home Office has a duty to accommodate asylum seekers who need support. The Home Office fund the operation of asylum accommodation, which is designed to meet the basic needs of asylum seekers.

In initial accommodation, such as hotels, accommodation and food are provided by the Home Office. Here each asylum seeker receives a weekly allowance of £8.86 to spend on clothing, transport, and so on.

In dispersal accommodation, each asylum seeker will usually get £49.18 to help them pay for things like food, clothing and toiletries. The allowance is put onto a debit card (ASPEN card) each week.

Legal status of asylum seekers

Some asylum seekers may have arrived in the UK via irregular routes (for example in small boats), others might have come to the UK legally (for example, on a visit visa) and then claimed asylum, because they cannot return to their country.

Under international law, a person has the right to apply for asylum and have their claim considered by the relevant authorities in any country signed up to the 1951 Refugee Convention. Those who claim asylum in the UK have the right to stay in the UK until their claim has been assessed.

There is no law that states that those who wish to claim asylum must do so in the first safe country they reach, although many remain in the first safe country they reach.

Rights to claim benefits and work

Asylum seekers

Asylum seekers cannot claim benefits and cannot apply for council housing while their application is being processed.

Asylum seekers are generally not allowed to work. However, some may be allowed to apply for permission to work in certain jobs, if they have been in the asylum system for over a year. Asylum seekers are free to volunteer and support the local community.

Refugees

If someone is successful in becoming a refugee, they usually receive permission to stay for five years in the UK. After this time, the Home Office, can review their decision or allow the refugee to apply for permanent residency.  

Refugees can legally work, study, and claim benefits in the UK, in the same way any British national can. Refugees do not have the right to vote in local or national elections and do not hold a British passport.

Refugees can also approach us for support. There is no law or government policy that puts refugees ahead of British nationals in getting council housing because of their identity.  

Once someone receives refugee status, their asylum seeker support is withdrawn by the government. They are removed from their temporary accommodation within 56 days currently. This period was increased from 28 days recently, and the Home Office are considering whether to keep it at 56 days or reduce it back.

How you can help out

We work with local organisations to provide support. This may include help to access English classes, volunteering opportunities, local services and so on.

If you’d like to volunteer to help, you can volunteer with Rushmoor Voluntary Services and explore opportunities with them.

If you are a local organisation who would like to support asylum seekers, please contact us using the details below.