Asylum seeker housing myths

Last Wednesday, VM complained about asylum seekers being housed in Sheffield council estate areas rather than 'Fulwood, Dore and Ranmoor'. I very much doubt if he/she would be happy if asylum seekers were housed in S10-land.
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Oct 2007, 07:50 BST

The few asylum seekers who make it to this country (the UK takes less than 0.05% of the world's asylum seekers) are, however, often housed on a no-choice basis in working class areas.

They do not, as VM claims, have any special rights to council housing. And if VM saw the general quality of housing provided to asylum seekers by private companies contracted by the Home Office, I doubt if they'd want to swap.

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Two of the most common origins of people seeking safety and a new life in Sheffield are Iraq and Afghanistan.

They are usually escaping the consequences of wars against their countries by the US and British Governments. Gordon Brown explained that there was a 'bottomless pit' of resources to fund these invasions, paid for by British taxpayers.

Perhaps there should be a 'bottomless pit' of money to build and repair council houses: that way there'd be good housing for all working-class people who need it. Whether they were born in this country or not.

Stuart Crosthwaite, Broomhall

Related topics:FulwoodSheffieldIraqHome Office