West London Council Urges Urgent Help as Asylum Seeker Housing Crisis Deepens

A council in West London is sounding the alarm over a growing housing crisis as it struggles to accommodate a rapidly rising number of asylum seekers—more than double the national average. Hillingdon Council, responsible for an estimated 3,000 asylum seekers mainly housed in hotels around Heathrow Airport, is appealing for much-needed government funding to ease the financial strain on local taxpayers.

The influx stems largely from hotels near the airport being used as temporary shelters, after which the responsibility for these individuals falls to the local council. While proud of its role in providing sanctuary, Hillingdon says its resources are stretched dangerously thin.

Councillors estimate a funding gap of around £5 million in the last financial year alone, a shortfall that has left the council bearing the burden and local residents footing the bill. Temporary accommodation blocks have been refurbished, but demand continues to outpace supply.

Some asylum seekers, after leaving hotel placements, find themselves ineligible for continued housing support, leading to a sharp rise in rough sleeping. Reports show growing tented communities under bridges and in parks, with local charities actively reaching out to offer support and assistance.

Hillingdon’s head of housing needs explained that while the council does its best, it simply cannot support everyone, leading to an increase in people living on the streets. Outreach groups like Thames Reach are working tirelessly to connect rough sleepers with temporary housing and services, but the challenges remain significant.

The pressures aren’t unique to Hillingdon—boroughs across London face similar struggles, particularly those with port facilities. Although the government has announced some funding, including payments to councils based on the number of asylum seekers they accommodate, local authorities say more support is crucial.

With London’s soaring housing costs and increasing homelessness, council leaders are calling for a multi-year funding plan that reflects the capital’s unique challenges. They warn that without swift and sustained assistance, the housing crisis will deepen, leaving vulnerable people without the support they desperately need.