Journalist Cat McShane’s article “Gap in homelessness help could force thousands back onto streets – The Everyone In policy was groundbreaking in its scope, but many of those housed in hotels will soon lose their accommodation” shines a light on what may happen next with the government’s Everyone In Policy. The article was published by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism as well as by the Huffington Post on 3rd July 2020.
In her article, Cat McShane reports that NHS England confirmed that the policy was instrumental in keeping infection rates low but that there was no initial long-term plan to continue funding the policy. However, after the Bureau and the Manchester Evening News reported that there was no long term funding for those housed under policy, the government announced additional funding of £105 million.
Case-studies are featured showing immense vulnerabilities, particularly amongst those with ‘no rights to public funds’ (‘NRPF’) and those who cannot afford Home Office fees. Despite Everyone in Policy and despite repeated calls for NRPF to be scrapped, councils in England have been told to decide on an individual basis whether to accommodate persons with NRPF and to do so without using government public funds.
Cat McShane highlights that the government has instead suggested that voluntary repatriation could be used as a solution. Samina Iqbal and Sarah Pinder of the immigration team are quoted on these measures being deployed as well as the lack of legal advice available.
