Stoke-on-Trent City Council has received £1.2 million in government funding to provide housing for 15 Afghan refugee families. This funding is part of a resettlement program aimed at assisting refugees who escaped Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover in 2021.
The local council has announced that the city will use these funds to purchase ten new properties and renovate five vacant city-owned properties. The new housing will include two- and three-bedroom apartments. If the refugees do not require these homes, they will be allocated for public use.
The city of Stoke-on-Trent intends to utilize government funds to enhance and expand the city council’s housing stock to better support vulnerable asylum seekers. The current plan includes providing housing for eligible Afghan refugees who have served alongside the British armed forces, as well as accommodations for vulnerable women who have come to Britain through the Afghan resettlement program.
Government officials believe that Britain has a moral obligation to Afghan refugees who collaborated with the British military and opposed the Taliban in support of democracy. Chris Robinson, the Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, remarked, “Stoke-on-Trent is a welcoming and diverse city, and we take pride in our ability to provide shelter to those fleeing tyranny.”
Robinson states that the new properties will be added to the city council’s housing stock, thereby enhancing the city’s long-term legacy. However, the city council has criticized the government for relocating hundreds of Afghan refugees to the city through a Home Office scheme instead of a resettlement program, which has placed additional pressure on the city.
In June 2024, Stoke-on-Trent welcomed a significant number of Afghan refugees, as reported by official figures. The city council provided accommodation for 1,156 asylum seekers, representing 45 per 10,000 residents. This statistic indicates that Stoke-on-Trent received the highest percentage of Afghan refugees in the country.
According to the report presented to city council leaders, the government will provide the city with substantial financial incentives to assist in accommodating Afghan refugees and to mitigate any negative effects on local resources. The report also notes that the city will not need to contribute matching funds, as the aim of the grant is to secure housing for refugees with minimal additional expenses.
