Back to abandonment: Fears remain that the most vulnerable will be left behind as lockdown ends

Ministers have a lot to think about as the country prepares to exit lockdown, but concerns are mounting over a lack of support and security for the groups most at risk, writes May Bulman

There has been no indication that the government will extend its measures (Shutterstock)

The first few weeks of lockdown were punctuated by government announcements about new rules to ensure the most vulnerable people in society were not left destitute during the pandemic.

Rough sleepers were to be placed in hotels and other temporary accommodation within days; refugees and asylum seekers were told they would not be evicted from their accommodation when decisions were made on their claims; and modern slavery victims were to be allowed to stay in government-funded safe housing even when they were due to leave.

These unprecedented moves marked a welcome indication that ministers cared about groups they had previously been accused of neglecting. For many charities, there was a wave of relief in the knowledge that their beneficiaries would have some form of protection during a time when they would otherwise be at even higher risk than usual.