Wirral Council has bought 14 properties to house Afghan refugees

A decision made by the local authority’s Director of Regeneration and Place, David Hughes, resulted in 20 properties being bought overall, with 14 being provided for Afghan nationals who have been given settled status in the UK.

The remaining six properties “must be used as temporary accommodation, helping to alleviate significant homelessness pressures in the borough.”

The council used nearly £2m from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities as well as just over £2.29m of its own money to make the purchase.

The government money comes from the Local Authority Housing Fund. This goes towards housing people from Afghanistan who worked alongside British Armed Forces there or Ukrainian refugees following the war between Russia and Ukraine that started in 2022.

The first round of funding went to house both Ukrainian and Afghan refugees but the second round, which £1.93m was given to Wirral, is specifically to house those from Afghanistan and help homeless people find secure accommodation.

Similar to the delivery of general affordable housing, local authorities like Wirral are required to part fund 60% of the money needed to purchase the homes as Wirral Council will receive long term rental income from the homes.

Funding through Wirral Council has come from recycled affordable homes grants from Homes England, a public body, Better Care income, and existing income coming into the council from refugee resettlement programs  that have already been delivered.

According to the council, “the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has recognised that Local authorities such as Wirral, who have welcomed Ukrainian and Afghan arrivals are facing challenges in securing settled accommodation for these households, which unless alleviated will further impact on existing housing pressures.”

Leader of the council’s Conservative group welcomed the government providing additional funding, adding: “We know these families’ lives were put at significant risk when the Taliban took retook power and it is heartening we are making good on the debt of honour we owe these brave people.”

The government has given out £250m to councils across the country in the latest round of funding. When the funding was announced, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Johnny Mercer said: “I saw first-hand the invaluable contribution many Afghans made to the British military and our international partners, with many more standing by the UK to uphold democratic values. Others were fleeing genuine persecution and rightly came here through safe and legal routes.

“Our commitment to the people of Afghanistan is unwavering, and our new plan, complete with new funding, will speed up the resettlement of Afghans into suitable, long-term housing so they can successfully make Britain their home and find the certainty that brings.

“We all owe a huge debt of gratitude to the people of Afghanistan, and I would encourage a whole of society effort to help them rebuild their lives here.”