FOI request (FOI203454)

Syrian Refugees

Requested Wed 11 January 2017
Responded Wed 11 January 2017

I am writing to request some information about refugees resettled under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement scheme (SVPRS), including dependents.

I am after the following information:

1. How many people has your LA pledged to resettle under the SVPRS by the end of the scheme (end of 2020?)

2. How many people have been resettled in your LA under the SVPRS as of Friday 9 December 2016?

3. Can you provide any information about the way housing is found for refugees resettled under the SVPRS, specifically:
- are any of the houses organised through private companies such as G4S or Serco? If so how many properties?
- are you aware of any charities or faith groups making property available to house refugees brought in through the scheme? If so, how many properties?

4. Please provide any official correspondence or communications from your council regarding the policy of obtaining accommodation for refugees under the SVPRS.


If any portion of these records is withheld, please specify which statutory exemptions under the FOI Act are being relied upon for each exemption.

 

Response

This information is held

1. Hastings Borough Council (HBC) has pledged to resettle 40 people up to 2020. Further to the initial pledge, HBC has said that it will try to resettle an additional 60 people if possible, bringing the total to 100.

2. 10

3. Not in Hastings

4. We have no official correspondence or communications that set out the Council’s policy for obtaining accommodation for the Syrian Resettlement Programme (SRP). HBC has sourced two properties to date for the SRP, both of which have been in the private rented sector. We expect properties in the future to also come from the private rented sector.