T23-003HCO Co-Design process, and development of an Action Plan to support the integration needs of Refugees and Asylum Seekers within the Derry City and Strabane District Council area

Description

The provision of accommodation for Asylum Seekers is the responsibility of the Home Office and managed through a contract with Mears locally. Mears provide Housing Management services right across the UK. They work in partnership with Central and Local Government, registered providers, tenants, landlords and investors to find solutions to homelessness, provide more social and affordable housing and create specialist housing for people with care needs. Asylum Seekers have historically been accommodated within the Belfast City Council boundary for a variety of reasons including to support reporting to the local Home Office and access to immigration legal support. Dispersed accommodation along with a number of hotels being used for contingency accommodation is now being procured outside of Belfast City Council area. Derry City and Strabane District Council area is now a dispersal area outside Belfast for the resettlement of Asylum Seekers and Refugees. In order to support the new residents Derry City and Strabane District Council is seeking to engage a Consultant to carry out a Co-design process and to develop a 2-year action plan for delivery (subject to funding from The Executive Office) in order to establish networks for assistance and integration within local communities. Please refer to CfT documents for further details.