Moving towards integration: The housing of asylum seekers and refugees in Britain

The government has explicitly identified housing as a key dimension of its strategy for refugee integration, the goal being to assist new migrants to access decent, safe, secure and affordable accommodation. Yet the evidence suggests that many asylum seekers and refugees experience housing deprivation and insecurity. The precise meaning of housing 'integration', what it can and should achieve, and how progress towards integration can be measured is uncertain and sometimes contested terrain. Drawing on qualitative research across five English localities, the paper explores what local housing providers and community development workers feel are the prerequisites for successful housing integration. The discussion focuses on the induction process, ongoing support, 'move-on' support for new refugees, and the need to combat racist harassment. The paper concludes that despite good intentions and some localised successes, there are still many obstacles to refugee housing integration, which arise from multiple gaps in provision, choice and support.