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Refugee social enterprise responds to Farage’s take on social housing
A non-profit social enterprise that supports refugees to rebuild their lives has strongly disputed views aired by Nigel Farage on social housing.
ACH, which was founded in Bristol back in 2008, has responded to a recent 6,800-word Substack essay by the leader of Reform UK, in which he pointed to “anti-white racism” embedded in the state.
Farage indicated that foreign nationals would be stopped from living in social housing under a Reform UK government.
He wrote: “Under a Reform UK Government, foreign nationals will not have any access to welfare.
In his recent Substack essay Nigel Farage indicated that foreign nationals would be stopped from living in social housing under a Reform UK government – photo: Laurie Noble
“Foreign nationals who are unable to relocate to private rented accommodation after a three-month grace period will lose their right to remain and be liable for deportation under Operation Restoring Justice.”
Farage also claimed that measures introduced by previous governments had led to the redistribution of the national stock of social housing “from the White British population who originally inhabited these areas”.
He said: “When Labour and Conservative politicians opened Britain’s borders after the war, it would have been simple to maintain a basic principle: the British people paid for these homes, should be housed in them, and newcomers will have to be patient as they earn their way in.”
Responding to Farage, Fuad Mahamed, chief executive at ACH, said: “We are aware of recent comments about restricting access to social housing based on nationality.
“ACH does not engage in party politics, but we do work every day with people who have come to the UK to rebuild their lives after fleeing conflict, persecution or instability.”
Fuad Mahamed, chief executive at ACH, disputed the claims of Reform UK leader on social housing – photo: ACH
Mahamed strongly disputed the Reform UK leader’s claim about the ease of securing social housing for immigrants, pointing out that stringent eligibility checks are already in place at local councils.
On the social housing crisis, Mahamed pointed to the need for an “evidence-based” conversation about the root causes of the current crisis and access to affordable homes.
He added: “In our experience, stable housing is the foundation for people to find work, access education and play a positive role in society. Without it, the challenges faced by individuals, communities and public services only increase.
On the social housing crisis, Mahamed pointed to the need for an “evidence-based” conversation about the root causes of the current crisis and access to affordable homes – photo: Martin Booth
“We would encourage a balanced and evidence-led conversation that focuses on addressing the root causes of the housing crisis — including the long-term shortage of genuinely affordable homes — while supporting cohesive and inclusive communities.”
Main photo: Milan Perera
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