By Dr Santokh Gill, Senior Lecturer in Housing Studies, MSc Housing Leadership Programme (Distance Learning), University of Huddersfield (Department of Social and Psychological Sciences).
Housing sits at the heart of integration. It shapes health, wellbeing and, crucially, a sense of belonging. This is especially true for refugees, whose sense of place maybe fractured, dislocated and informed by trauma. However, currently in the UK, migration, and therefore migrants themselves, are framed increasingly as a threat to be managed, prevented and disrupted. The populist discourse conjures narratives of ‘us and them’, where the ‘other’, if tolerated, is expected to adapt and ‘fit-in’ and be grateful for what they are given in terms of accommodation, whilst simultaneously trying to navigate successive barriers around employment, opportunities, community and belonging. As is well documented, refugees face significant and multiple inequalities, and this is especially evident in the context of housing and accommodation. Whilst access to housing can be empowering for refugees, offering safety, dignity and stability, it can also reinforce inequalities. Tragic cases like that of Awaab Ishak and the tragedy of Grenfell exposed how far housing conditions reflect wider racial injustice and systemic inequalities. Research consistently shows racial and ethnic disparities in housing outcomes, mirroring patterns we see in health and criminal justice. Long-standing problems in the labour market and welfare system and immigration rules deepen these inequalities for racialised minorities. Unequal housing costs and policies such as ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ add further barriers.
All of this is unfolding in an increasingly polarised climate. In post-Brexit Britain, there’s increased evidence of social division, Islamophobia and hostility towards migrants. As economic pressures grow linked to the cost-of-living crisis and lack of secure work, public frustration is often redirected at the most vulnerable in our society: refugees and migrants (a narrative seen many times over in history). Housing becomes a flashpoint for these tensions, with slogans like “British homes for British people” carrying clear racialised meanings. This is the social context in which we undertook our three-year research project on refugee housing pathways in Yorkshire and the Humber, in partnership with Migration Yorkshire.
Our project involved more than 70 people from refugee backgrounds who had arrived over the last 30 years, as well as including third-country nationals from Hong Kong. We also spoke with over 100 stakeholders across strategic and frontline roles who work with refugees, particularly in housing. Using a housing pathways approach, we traced people’s routes into the UK, through the asylum system and through settlement schemes. Our research examined their experiences of housing, education, employment, English language learning and interactions with support agencies. We mapped housing moves, turning points and moments of support or crisis.
A clear pattern emerged, with how and when refugees arrive being a crucial factor. Those who gain refugee status via the asylum system are far more likely to face homelessness. The 28-day ‘move on’ period after a positive decision is wholly inadequate, leaving many people sofa surfing, in temporary accommodation or sleeping rough. By contrast, refugees arriving through formal resettlement schemes tended to move into more stable housing more quickly. They received more structured, tailored support and historically benefited from greater availability of social housing in certain areas.
Instability was far more common among those on the asylum route. Intersectional factors – race, gender, sexuality, trauma and English language proficiency – also shaped people’s housing journeys and access to support. Some participants still have not secured long-term accommodation and have experienced homelessness, stigma and long periods in emergency housing. Yet despite these challenges, refugees consistently demonstrated resilience, empathy and a strong desire to help others.
Our research highlighted the sharp rise in homelessness among new refugees, especially since 2023. Faster asylum decisions without additional support have pushed more people into precarious situations. Whilst the wider housing crisis with high rents and shortages of affordable and safe homes affects everyone, refugees, unfamiliar with processes face extra hurdles, such as a lack of guarantors or references, bias linked to Right to Rent checks, delays in Universal Credit and local housing allowance caps.
Where outcomes were positive, certain factors were always present: stable and affordable housing (usually social housing); a key worker to guide people; opportunities to learn English; support to get skills recognised; as well as help from community and third sector organisations and other refugees. These elements build confidence and guard against homelessness.
But the system remains inconsistent and unequal. Refugees on settlement schemes receive structured help and planned housing; those coming through the asylum system face short deadlines and minimal support. This imbalance is unnecessary and fundamentally unfair.
This sits within a broader politics of racialisation, where some groups are framed as more or less ‘deserving’. New immigration rules and earned settlement proposals risk increasing homelessness and deepening uncertainty. Many migrants fear that seeking help could jeopardise their status, fears I recognise from my own upbringing, where a packed suitcase stayed ready ‘just in case. It’s painful to see these anxieties resurfacing for the next generation.
Our research aimed to bring these realities to the forefront and challenge the growing hostility embedded in policy and public debate. If housing is truly central to integration, then ensuring fairness, stability and dignity for refugees must be a national priority.
