TNAG-1525-FCO40-2089-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1986 — Page 81

or

Where there is more than one close relative and they are living in different areas, it is necessary to decide which area would be most suitable for the new arrivals to be settled in.

The process of contacting applicants, getting the relevant information, and working out the housing need, can take several weeks often applicants have to be contacted several times by letter to clarify information.

The

Once the housing need has been worked out, the housing worker contacts the relevant housing association/local authority. ideal length of stay in Reception is a maximum of 4 months; it is important therefore, to get an agreement from a housing department that families going to Reception will be housed within 3 - 4 months of arrival. In each case, written confirmation from the housing department stating that housing will be offered within this time limit is required. Approaches to housing departments are complicated by the fact that there is no co-ordinated policy regarding housing for family reunions. For Refugee Action cases, there are at least 30 different areas of resettlement - in each area the policy of the housing department, and the system of applying for housing, differs. Some departments require an approach to be made through the director of housing, others through the lettings section, and others through the Homeless Family section. Some areas decide to house family reunions through the National Mobility Scheme, some through the Homeless Persons Act, some through normal or priority waiting lists.

Reaching agreements over housing can take from a few weeks to several months, depending on the attitude of the housing department. Most local authorities have significant homeless family problems already, and have not welcomed the prospect of housing family reunion arrivals from Hong Kong.

So

When appropriate, the housing worker arranges for families to be called forward from Hong Kong. It is at this stage that information about changes in the family in Hong Kong is given for example, a single person has got married, or a couple have had more children, since the original application was made. far, this has happened with 6 out of 15 Reception families who have been called forward between November and March. In some cases, applicants have been able to give information in advance about such changes, but it seems that in many cases the relatives in Hong Kong have not informed them because they may not be aware that they will be accepted for settlement in the U.K.

2

Where there are changes in family size or structure, it may mean a fresh approach to the housing department in the light of the new information

for example,

or

-

2 units of housing may now be needed instead of 1

if a family has increased in size and a larger property is needed, the housing department may not be able to stick to its agreement of offering housing within 3 months, because it may have a severe shortage of larger properties.