District set for five refugee families

Plans to rehome five Syrian refugee families in Leamington are set to be decided this week as councillors look to providing years of emergency help,
Refugees WecomeRefugees Wecome
Refugees Wecome

Warwickshire County Council is due to agree to take on 31 desperate families when it meets on Thursday as part of an ongoing commitment within the Syrian Refugee Resettlement Programme.

The proposal is likely to be passed, and will mean five Syrian families being resettled in Leamington, and 10 in Rugby by 2019.

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The programme, now in its second phase, is being run between the government, Warwickshire, and its five district and borough councils to try and help some of the thousands of people fleeing their homes because of war.

Councillors have stressed that all housing needs will be met through the private sector, and that the housing programme will not affect housing lists or council tenants.

And that all funding needed will come from the government’s funding programmes and not individual authority’s budgets.

A report to be debated next week reads: “The intention is that the housing needs of Syrian refugees will be met through sourcing and securing private sector housing as opposed to any council stock.

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“The county council will act as the key contact for the Home Office, and community organisations.

“District and borough councils will be primarily responsible for identifying suitable accommodation for the Syrian families.”

Rugby Borough Council has already agreed to take on the figures, and Warwick District Council is due to make a final decision in June.

The authorities must take in refugees as part of the Government’s scheme to resettle 20,000 people from United Nations refugee camps

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Warwickshire County Council will receive payments each year to help support families - totalling up to around £11,000 per child over the rehoming process.

Councillors said that the majority of this funding will go towards meeting rents and providing educational support and provisions for families to learn English.

Members will debate the plans on Thursday where they are likely to be expected ready to be put in place this summer.