Alexander Panayi | Trainee

Around 40,000 people are currently housed by the Home Office while their claims for refugee status are decided. In 2012 the Home Office contracts to provide housing for dispersed asylum seekers were taken from Local Authorities and awarded to three companies, G4S, Serco and Clearsprings Ready Homes under the Compass (Commercial and Operational Managers Procuring Asylum Support Services) contracts. These contracts run until 2019.

Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals and was commonly used in buildings. Asbestos fibres were woven into fabrics or mixed in cement, plastic and other materials to make them stronger. This was profitable for business but highly toxic.

The previous #SocialHousing positionIf we turn back time and go back a decade or so, we would consider #SocialHousing to be an opportunity for those who had low income to find a place they can call home. Where a council had accepted a duty to house a homeless person/family, that individual/family was far more likely to secure suitable accommodation in the social sector. For example, most councils general position (noted in their policies) was that applicants would be given three offers of accommodation. If all three were rejected then the council would advise that their duty would come to an end. Why was it easier back then? It’s quite simple. It is because councils had enough housing stock to offer vulnerable individuals/families on low income, social housing.