Housing questions and local impacts
Members of the public asked why Folkestone & Hythe District Council (F&HDC) was able to find accommodation for asylum seekers despite pressures on housing for those who are homeless/on waiting lists in the district.
- It is the Home Office’s statutory responsibility to ensure no asylum seeker is left destitute. The Home Office provide various types of temporary accommodation whilst asylum applications are being processed.
Other questions were received around the housing of different sections of the community. The council’s homelessness team is able to look at housing options for any person in the district that needs accommodation.
Affordability issues around housing and the cost-of living were also raised. The council provides employment advice and is currently involved in supporting vulnerable people through a range of cost-of-living interventions, in addition to national and county-wide schemes.
The impact of the use of hotels on house prices is not a matter for the local district council, however all efforts are made to minimise any activities that may cause detriment to the surrounding area.
Questions were raised around the impact on tourism and the effect this would have on the local economy. The council will continue to keep abreast of any such impacts and work with the Home Office. In terms of length of stay and selection of hotels, these are entirely the decision of the Home Office, and the Home Office will try wherever possible to work with local authorities around suitable locations.
The fact that other local authorities have launched legal challenges to stop the appropriate of hotels was also raised. Legal challenges by local authorities have been unsuccessful and costly to the taxpayer. F&HDC has taken advice and on balance this would not have been the right route.