Oxfordshire to House 423 Asylum Seekers in Hotels
By 2026, Oxfordshire will be housing 423 asylum seekers in hotels, a situation that is straining local resources. The local council is actively searching for more permanent housing solutions as it works through the backlog of asylum claims, reflecting a broader national challenge.
The reliance on hotels is a nationwide issue costing UK taxpayers over £2.1 billion a year. The average cost for a hotel space per person was £118.87 per night in March 2025, a figure that is roughly six times more expensive than other forms of asylum accommodation. This spending is driven by a significant backlog of asylum cases. While down from its peak, the UK still had around 91,000 applications awaiting an initial decision at the end of 2024. The average wait time for an initial decision on a claim in 2024 was 413 days. A separate and growing backlog of 42,000 appeals is further stalling the system, creating a major barrier to ending the use of hotel accommodation. To address this, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has proposed a "major overhaul" of the appeals process, aiming to fast-track decisions. In Oxfordshire, a coalition including Oxfordshire Homeless Movement, Connection Support, Asylum Welcome, and Soha Housing is pioneering an alternative. Their NRPF Housing First Project provides shared housing and tailored support to individuals with no recourse to public funds, having already assisted over 50 people. This local model presents a stark financial contrast. The Housing
