HOUSING and refugee charities across Britain wrote to the Home Office today demanding that “dangerous” new immigration rules targeting people sleeping rough for deportation are changed.

Representatives from almost 80 groups have signed a letter to Home Secretary Priti Patel and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Robert Jenrick calling for the measures to be reconsidered. 

The bodies, including Crisis, Shelter, NACCOM (No Accommodation Network), Liberty and others from all parts of Britain, say that targeting people sleeping rough will endanger lives and undermine progress in reducing homelessness. 

The legislation will make rough sleeping grounds for deportation for many non-British nationals, meaning that from December people could find their right to remain in Britain cancelled or refused if they spend as little as one night on the streets. 

The letter states: “Those legally in [Britain] with no access to state support, and for whom employment is not possible during the pandemic, risk being pushed into exploitative work and potentially modern slavery to avoid sleeping rough and putting themselves at risk of deportation.

“In place of a damaging policy that will risk further exploitation for people sleeping rough we are calling on the Westminster government to make sure that everyone at risk of having to sleep rough this winter is offered safe emergency accommodation and support.”

In 2017 Home Office guidance allowed European nationals who had lived in Britain for years and were looking for work to be deported, despite the guidance saying such action was disproportionate. 

It was ruled illegal by the High Court later that year but not before many had been wrongly detained and removed from the UK.

The government has been urged to work with charities to deliver positive alternatives, with funding provided to ensure full support is offered.

Renae Mann, national director of NACCOM, said: “The just and humane response to rough sleeping is to provide safe housing and support, not punish those who are experiencing homelessness by deporting them. 

“If the government is serious about ending rough sleeping, they need to build on the positive Everyone In scheme and suspend No Recourse to Public Funds restrictions, enabling everyone at risk of homelessness, regardless of immigration status, to access accommodation and support during this unprecedented public-health crisis.”