Council given money to house Afghan refugees

The money from government will help provide homes for Afghan refugees

A council has been given government money to provide seven homes for Afghan refugees.

The £1.75m grant to Dorset Council will help pay for three properties, which can also be used for homeless families at risk of going into bed and breakfast accommodation.

Councillors have been told the scheme will depend on the authority being able to agree a partnership with match-funding from a registered housing provider.

Housing and health portfolio holder Gill Taylor said without the partnership the money would not be enough to pay for the homes.

At a meeting the council's cabinet backed her proposal, without debate, to seek a partner to set up and run the scheme, with the council retaining nomination rights for the properties.

Ms Taylor said the scheme insisted the tenancies should be secure, which the council was unable to do.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has also used Chickerell Camp, near Weymouth, to house people who supported the UK government and military in Afghanistan.