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.

But this was always tarnished by the knowledge that it would come to an end – and that time is now upon us. The new measures were due to last three months, and there has been no indication that this period will be extended.

No one is suggesting the measures should continue forever. Hotels will need to reopen to the public at some point, and both asylum accommodation and modern-slavery safe housing will need to be able to welcome in new guests.

The question is: what will the transition look like? And will there be efforts to continue some of the positive steps made in granting people in precarious situations a little more security?

There is mounting concern among charities that the answer is no – and that many people will be faced with a cliff edge in terms of support at a time when the pandemic is still ongoing.

Central government has been accused of having a “completely disjointed” approach to ending this period of lockdown support for the homeless community, with an apparent lack of any guidance for how councils should transition people out of their temporary accommodation.

Refugees and asylum seekers are facing a similar problem, as they are expected to be evicted from their housing in a matter of weeks, with no indication as to where they should move on to. There is also a lack of clarity for trafficking victims, as the extension of safe housing support is due to end on 6 June. Worryingly, The Independent has reported that some victims are already experiencing a cut-off in outreach support.

Ministers have a lot to think about as the country prepares to exit lockdown, but fears remain that despite this opportunity to strengthen support for society’s most vulnerable, these groups will instead only fall back into abandonment.