Families who have had to flee Afghanistan are expected to arrive in the Bath area soon after a “fantastic” community response for suitable properties.
They will be offered accommodation in Bath and North East Somerset under the government’s refugee resettlement program.
Thanks to an ‘excellent community response’ to a demand for suitable rental properties, the Bath and North East Somerset Council has secured several affordable and sustainable housing units and is offering them to the Home Office for Afghan families during this period. of the first wave of resettlement.
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The Home Office is in the process of matching families to properties and the first families are expected to arrive soon.
The families arrive as part of the Afghan Locally Employed Scheme (ALES) which provides refuge for those who had to flee Afghanistan because they were working with the security forces.
The work is led and coordinated by Bath and North East Somerset, supported by Bath Welcomes Refugees and Julian House.
Councilor Kevin Guy, Head of Council, said: “Since we asked residents to come up with offers for rental housing for families in dire need, the response from the local community has been incredible.
“Everyone was so moved by the appalling scenes we all saw on the news.
“Many residents have offered us guest rooms in their homes, and many people have also offered us their independent rental properties and annexes. “
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He continued: “Unfortunately, we were unable to accept them as the Interior Ministry is clear that it can only place families in self-contained housing with private facilities.
“However, we have referred people to Room for Refugees and Refugees at Home who are able to accept these kind of generous offers. Thank you very much to everyone who offered their support.”
Some of the properties the council has secured are furnished and ready to rent, but some need to be furnished. Residents donated furniture and Bath Welcomes Refugees and Julian House also offered support.
A member of border forces personnel assists an evacuee as refugees arrive from Afghanistan at Heathrow Airport on August 26, 2021 in London, England. (Image: Dominic Lipinski – WPA Pool / Getty Images)
Councilor Dine Romero, cabinet member of the Council for Children and Youth, Communities and Culture, said: Weeks.
“We hope to continue resettling more families under the ALES program and the Afghan Citizen Resettlement Program, so we would always like to hear from all of those who have self-contained accommodation to rent.
“Thank you also to everyone who offered to donate furniture and other items. We will soon be able to re-request for specific items that we still need. ”
If you can offer self-catering accommodation with a private entrance and its own bathroom and kitchen, available for at least one year, at the local housing allowance level, please send an email to equal @ bathnes .gov.uk.
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Source: www.somersetlive.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-09-02 14:33:20
