ABSTRACT
Asylum seekers, almost by definition, arrive in this country without any means of support, so that they are unable to provide shelter for themselves. They may occasionally have friends or relatives who can provide shelter for a short period. Some asylum seekers have a small amount of money with which they can provide hotel accommodation for themselves, but again this is usually only a short term option. Accordingly many asylum seekers are reliant on state assistance to provide housing or the income with which to pay for housing immediately on arrival in the United Kingdom or soon thereafter. This reliance continues when and if the claim is accepted and the asylum seeker officially becomes a refugee.
