Afghan families fleeing Taliban regime could be given new homes

Afghan families seeking refuge in the UK will be settled in East Renfrewshire, if council approval is secured.

Up to six families would be welcomed into the area, with private rented and social housing homes to be provided.

When UK and US troops withdrew from Afghanistan last year, the Taliban took control of most of the country.

The UK Government has requested support from councils to help Afghans fleeing their homes.

Cabinet members at East Renfrewshire Council will be asked to agree to involvement in the Afghan relocation and resettlement schemes later today.

Council officials have reported: “Those who have not yet been settled are living in holding hotel accommodation and it is vital that more permanent solutions are found in order for the individuals to start a new life in the UK.”

They also said: “While it is recognised there is strain on all of our council and health and social care partnership services, particularly post-covid, the council is keen to contribute.”

The UK Government committed to resettling up to 20,000 Afghans in the long-term, with 5,000 in the first year.

The council report stated the resettlement scheme will “provide protection for people at risk from the Taliban” because of “their stand for democracy and human rights” or “their gender, sexuality or religion”.

Funding will be provided by the government for three years and the Home Office will match families appropriate to the placements offered by councils, taking into account the size of the accommodation offered.

The council report explains: “In terms of security, all applications are subject to security checks carried out across government departments, including the police.”

Council officials have considered “various options in terms of accommodation in response to requests from the Home Office and Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).”

They are planning to house four families in private rented accommodation and two in social housing provided by Barrhead Housing Association.

“This has been challenging,” the report added. “Owing to the demand on the council’s housing stock, the most suitable proposal is using private rented accommodation.

“Given current resources and demand for services across the council and from the health and social care partnership, it is proposed the council accepts four families and uses private sector accommodation to accommodate the families.”

The council then plans to use two properties provided by Barrhead Housing Association (BHA), which has been working with the Scottish Refugee Council, to house another two families.

All the families would receive support to access schools, GPs and Jobcentre appointments.

Targeted training and employability support will also be available for all adults.

Every other Scottish council has committed to accommodating refugees and, if an agreement is secured, East Renfrewshire officials hope plans would be in place to welcome Afghan people as soon as possible.

The report adds: “Some councils, particularly those with larger numbers of available council house stock, have already received families.

“However, the matching process has been slow and the Home Office is continuing to work through a backlog.”

East Renfrewshire resettled 11 Syrian families in 2016, with nine families, made up of 42 people, still living in the area.

It it vital that more permanent solutions are found in order for the individuals to start a new life in the UK Council officials