Afghan refugees will soon be arriving in Bath and North East Somerset following a “fantastic” community response to find suitable properties for them to stay in.
The Guildhall in Bath
Families will be offered accommodation through the Government’s refugee resettlement scheme.
Following requests for suitable rental properties to use, Bath & North East Somerset Council has secured a number of homes and is offering them to the Home Office for Afghan families in the first wave of resettlement.
The Home Office is currently matching families to properties and the first refugees are expected to arrive in the area soon.
The families are arriving under the Afghan Locally Employed Scheme (ALES), which offers refuge for those who had to flee Afghanistan because they had been working with the security forces.
The work is being led and coordinated by Bath & North East Somerset Council, supported by Bath Welcomes Refugees and Julian House.
Councillor Kevin Guy, Council Leader, said: “Since we made a request for residents to come forward with offers of rented accommodation for those families in urgent need, the response from the local community has been incredible.
“Everyone has been so moved by the appalling scenes we have all witnessed on the news.
“Many residents have offered us spare rooms in their houses, and lots of people have also offered their self-contained rental properties and annexes to us.
“Unfortunately we have not been able to accept these because the Home Office is clear that they are only able to place families in self-contained accommodation with private facilities.
“However, we have referred people on to Room for Refugees and Refugees at Home who are able to accept these kinds of generous offers. Thank you very much to everyone who has offered their support.”
Some of the properties the council has secured are furnished and ready to let, but some need furnishing.
Residents have offered furniture and Bath Welcomes Refugees and Julian House have also offered their support.
Councillor Dine Romero, cabinet member for Children and Young People, Communities and Culture, said: “We are beyond fortunate to have such a warm and welcoming community in Bath and North East Somerset who have made so many kind offers over the past few weeks.
“We hope to continue to resettle more families under the ALES scheme and the Afghan Citizen’s Resettlement Scheme, so we would still like to hear from anyone who has self-contained accommodation for rent.
“Thanks also to everyone who has offered to donate furniture and other items. We may make requests again soon for specific items that we still need.”
If you can offer self-contained accommodation with a private entrance and its own bathroom and kitchen facilities, which is available for at least a year at the Local Housing Allowance level, email [email protected].
