Council given money to house Afghan refugees

Dorset Council has received government funding to provide seven homes for Afghan refugees. The £1.75 million grant will be used to purchase three properties, which could also be used to house homeless families facing temporary accommodation. The implementation of this plan will depend on the council reaching a partnership agreement with a registered housing provider for matched funding.

Jill Taylor, the head of housing and health, stated that the funding would not be sufficient to cover the cost of housing without a partnership. She noted at the meeting that the plan requires secure tenancies, which the council is currently unable to provide. The cabinet supported her proposal at the meeting, without debate, to seek a partner to establish and operate the scheme, with the council retaining nomination rights for the properties.

Ms. Taylor emphasized that the council needs a partner to ensure the smooth implementation of the plan, as the council itself cannot meet all the requirements. Furthermore, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has also used the Chickerell Camp near Weymouth to house those who supported the British government and military in Afghanistan.