A short-lived truce for refugees in the United Kingdom. Until January 2, no one will be kicked out of their hotel room. A decision which follows the alert from municipalities and associations on the increase in the number of homeless people.
1 min
With our correspondent in London, Marie Boëda
846 homeless refugees last October in the capital. An increase of 39% in 1 month. And these figures will increase, assures London City Hall.
The British Red Cross is distributing sleeping bags to people who have recently been granted refugee status. They are all going to spend Christmas in the street.
The consequences on their mental and physical health will follow. The association warns: only misery awaits them. There could be thousands in the same situation within a few months.
Housing migrants costs the taxpayer 9 million euros per day. This is far too much, protest conservative ministers and MPs. The government’s plan: reduce spending on refugees. Of the 400 hotels that host them, 50 will close next year.
Among the alternatives proposed by the Ministry of the Interior, a barge which already accommodates 300 asylum seekers or even rehabilitated former military bases.
Read alsoEurope: more and more people on the streets and public policies that make a difference