Asylum seekers service
As part of the national dispersal programme for asylum seekers, Salford City Council entered into a contract with the National Asylum Support Service (known as NASS and is part of the Home Office). The city council's housing support service, Housing Connections Partnership, is responsible for managing this contract which covers 30% of the asylum seekers in Salford with the remaining 70% being housed by private landlords.
Council properties are assigned to the Social Housing team solely for the use of asylum seekers.
NASS notifies the Social Housing team where somebody is in need of housing. The Social Housing team then decides which property is best suited for that person or family. All properties are fully furnished, approximately half of which are 3 bed houses for families of up to 5 persons. The remaining are 2 bed flats for 2 single people who, in the majority of cases, may not know each other. Once the family have moved in, an Social Housing Support Officer will visit regularly to ensure that everything is satisfactory and that the property meets their needs.
Asylum seekers are helped to register with a local G.P, those with school age children will be helped to access schools, and those who choose to do so will be offered help to register to learn English.
This work continues until the asylum seeker receives a decision on their asylum application. If a positive decision is reached then they become eligible to claim benefits such as income support and housing benefit or they are entitled to work. At this stage they would become entitled to apply to the homelessness section and/or register on the Housing Register. However they must leave their asylum property soon after receiving a positive decision. If an asylum application is refused and the appeals system has been exhausted then they must vacate their asylum property. They will not be entitled to work, claim benefits or access public housing. Removal directions should be issued to them by the Home Office. Whilst waiting, the Refugee Action should be contacted or if they wish to be considered under the National Assistance Act then contact should be made with Social Services.
The Social Housing team have the following responsibilities:
- pay rent for the property
- pay council tax, gas, electric and water for the property
- pay for and arrange repairs
- decorate and furnish properties and maintain gardens
- move occupants of properties when deemed necessary
- inform local office of anti-social behaviour issues and assist in investigation
This page was last updated on 13 August 2008
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