Where are the South's asylum seekers being housed?

"It has been a year since the Bibby Stockholm asylum barge departed Portland on the Dorset coast - a moment that divided a community. Today, asylum is one of the most divisive issues in the UK, with anti-immigration demonstrations taking place in towns and cities across the country. Much of the tension has centred on where asylum seekers are being accommodated."

"Former army barracks, hotels and houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs) are among the places currently being used. Across the UK, 111,651 asylum seekers are receiving governmentfunded support and accommodation. Patterns vary sharply by region. The south of England relies heavily on hotel accommodation. Northern England and Scotland tend to use more HMOs. Portsmouth City Council supports the highest number of asylum seekers of any local authority in the region, with 761 people living in private accommodation, including hotels and HMOs."

"When the Bibby Stockholm barge was moored off Portland, Dorset's numbers looked very different. The county would have had more than 500 asylum seekers staying locally - a dramatic increase compared with the present day. People claim asylum because they cannot safely remain in their home countries, often due to persecution, conflict or violence. While their claims are processed, it is the UK government's responsibility to provide housing and financial support."

Significant variation exists across UK regions in how asylum seekers are housed, with the south of England dependent on hotels while northern England and Scotland use more HMOs. The government provides housing and financial support to asylum seekers while claims are processed, and 111,651 people currently receive governmentfunded support and accommodation. Local authorities show wide disparities: Portsmouth supports 761 asylum seekers in private accommodation, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole house 618 mostly in hotels, Oxford hosts 239 mainly in hotels, Reading supports 685 mostly in hotels, and Dorset Council supports just two. The high use of hotels has become one of the most expensive elements of the asylum system.

Read at www.bbc.com