A council will buy new housing for refugees as part of its “moral obligation” to protect people fleeing conflict abroad.
Northumberland County Council will spend PS1.2m on the purchase and renovation of seven properties, located mainly in the south-east part of the county.
The homes will be occupied by Ukrainians seeking refuge from the Russian invasion as well as Afghans who have supported the UK’s war against the Taliban.
The council leader Glen Sanderson stated that buying the homes “absolutely was the right thing to be doing”.
“We must never forget the bravery of both our troops and those Afghans, who tried to find a peaceful solution to a very serious conflict,” he said.
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the government will provide money to purchase the properties via the Local Authority Housing Fund.
The fund was created to help councils in England find accommodation for refugee families.
‘Humanitarian schemes’
Conservative councillor Colin Horncastle stated that the homes would be given to “people who we know have a legal right to be here in this country”.
“If we take this route, it will bring in an additional PS600,000.00 of government money to provide property for the people we have a duty to provide,” he said.
“In case people have concerns about the type people it is aimed for, the objectives are to support recent humanitarian schemes such as the Afghani and Ukrainian schemes that offer sanctuary via safe entry routes.”
He said the new homes will “reduce pressure on existing housing schemes”.
It’s a win/win situation. This brings Government money into our housing stock and adds to it.”
The proposal was unanimously endorsed by the council.