The move-on arrangements for successful asylum seekers do not work well. Your article "Social landlords press for extension to refugee contract" underlines the problem of refugees becoming homeless because they do not have time to find alternative accommodation (23 January, page 8).

The Immigration and Nationality Directorate has promised to improve its administration of the 28-day "grace period" – for continuing support and accommodation – so more time is available to the successful asylum seeker and the agencies that advise and assist them. But still, a large number of successful asylum seekers receive only seven days' notice before their support and accommodation from the National Asylum Support Service is stopped. Such a brief period of notice creates a crisis for all concerned.

It is therefore good that the committee that is considering the asylum bill has before it this week a new clause that would ensure all successful asylum seekers receive 28 days' notice before their NASS support can end.

We hope the government will accept this improvement, which would cost it nothing.

The members of the Housing Associations Charitable Trust/Joseph Rowntree Foundation refugee and housing network: Richard Best; Sandy Buchan, Refugee Action; Ann Branson, Leicester City Council; Dipali Chandra, DC Consulting; Laurence Chester, Rose Lodge Group; Dr Azim El-Hassan, Refugee Housing Integration Programme; Fiona Gaffa, Westminster Voluntary Action; Vaughan Jones, Praxis; Jon Lord, Bolton Community Homes; Bill Payne, Yorkshire Housing; Heather Petch, HACT; Anil Singh, Manningham Housing Association; Sandra Skeete, Refugee Housing Association; Clare Tickell, Stonham Housing Association; Simon Underwood, Banks of the Wear Community Projects; Daoud Zaaroura, North of England Refugee Service

Source

Housing Today