Emergency Housing for Asylum Seekers: How to Access

Last updated: 15 October 2026

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If you are homeless or about to become homeless while seeking asylum, emergency housing exists to help you. Many asylum seekers do not know that governments and charities provide emergency shelter. This guide explains how to access emergency housing asylum support in the UK, the US, and Canada. It covers who qualifies, what to expect, and who to call right now if you need a safe place to sleep tonight.[1]

Being without a home is dangerous. It puts your physical health, mental health, and even your asylum case at risk. Therefore, getting into emergency accommodation quickly is one of the most important steps you can take. Whether you are in the UK waiting for a decision or in the US after crossing the border, there are options available. This asylum guide will walk you through each one clearly.

UK Emergency Housing: Section 98 Support

In the UK, the main law that provides emergency housing for asylum seekers is the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. Section 98 of this Act allows the Home Office to give you temporary accommodation if you appear to be destitute. This means you have no money and no place to stay. This type of housing is called initial accommodation.[2]

Initial accommodation is different from long-term asylum housing. It is a short-term placement, usually in a hotel or hostel. You may share a room with other asylum seekers. The Home Office provides basic meals and a small cash allowance. You typically stay in initial accommodation for a few weeks while the Home Office processes your application for Section 95 support. Section 95 is the longer-term support that includes housing and weekly cash payments.

How to Apply for Section 98 Emergency Housing

To get emergency housing in the UK, you should call Migrant Help immediately. Their helpline number is 0808 8010 503. This number is free to call and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Migrant Help is the official charity that the Home Office contracts to help asylum seekers access support.[3]

When you call, tell them you are an asylum seeker and you are homeless or about to become homeless. They will ask you some questions and then refer your case to the Home Office. In most cases, the Home Office will offer you a place within 24 to 72 hours. If you are street-homeless that same night, Migrant Help can sometimes arrange same-day emergency placement.

What Happens After Initial Accommodation

After a few weeks in initial accommodation, the Home Office will "disperse" you to longer-term housing. This means they will move you to a flat or shared house in another part of the UK. You do not get to choose the city. Dispersal housing is managed by private companies under contract with the Home Office. Furthermore, you will receive a weekly cash payment of around 49.18 GBP to cover basic needs.[4]

UK: Council Homelessness Duties

Councils have homelessness duties under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996, as amended by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017. These duties depend on immigration status. Refugees with leave to remain are eligible for full homelessness help. Asylum seekers waiting for a decision are generally not eligible and rely on Home Office support under section 95 or section 98. Refused asylum seekers have very limited entitlements.

Refugees leaving asylum accommodation have a short move-on period, usually 28 days, after which Home Office support ends. Contact the council housing office as soon as you receive your grant letter. Under the 2017 Act, a council must help prevent homelessness when someone is threatened with it within 56 days. If you are in a priority need group, such as families with children, pregnant women and people with serious health problems, the council must also give interim accommodation. Social housing is allocated through bidding or choice-based lettings schemes, and waits are often long. In expensive areas, Local Housing Allowance rates are often too low to cover private rents.

Even where housing is not the council's duty, other duties can apply. Children's services must accommodate unaccompanied children under section 20 of the Children Act 1989. Adult social care has duties under the Care Act 2014 for adults with care and support needs. Council mental health services can also help.

UK: Specialist Emergency Providers

Some people need specialist emergency help. For domestic abuse, Refuge runs the National Domestic Abuse Helpline (0808 2000 247). Refuge, Solace Women's Aid, Southall Black Sisters, members of the Imkaan network and regional refuges provide safe accommodation. However, refuge places are often harder to get for people with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF), so tell the helpline about your immigration status.

Rape Crisis England and Wales runs a support line on 0808 500 2222. Rainbow Migration and Micro Rainbow support LGBTQ+ asylum seekers, and Micro Rainbow runs safe housing. Freedom from Torture and the Helen Bamber Foundation support torture survivors. Survivors of trafficking get support through the National Referral Mechanism, with providers such as the Salvation Army and Ashiana Sheffield.

Unaccompanied children are accommodated by the local council's children's services under section 20 of the Children Act 1989. The Refugee Council's children's services give advocacy support, and the Baobab Centre for Young Survivors in Exile offers therapy for young people in London.

US Emergency Shelter for Asylum Seekers

The United States does not have a single federal system for emergency housing asylum support like the UK does. Instead, the system relies on a mix of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), faith-based charities, and local government programmes. This means that what is available to you depends heavily on where you are in the country.[5]

Border Respite Centres

If you have just crossed the US-Mexico border, you may be taken to a Respite Centre. These centres are run by NGOs such as Catholic Charities, the Salvation Army, and local community groups. They provide a bed, food, clothing, and basic medical care for a few days. Respite centres help people who have just been released from immigration detention. They are not permanent housing solutions.

NGO and Charity Shelters

Several large organisations provide shelter and support for asylum seekers across the US. These include:

• Catholic Charities USA - offices in most major cities, offers shelter referrals and case management
• HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) - provides housing assistance and legal support
• International Rescue Committee (IRC) - resettlement support including temporary housing
• Local homeless shelters - open to anyone, but often overcrowded

Some US cities are known as sanctuary cities. These cities have policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Consequently, asylum seekers in sanctuary cities may feel safer accessing local services. Cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles have expanded shelter programmes for asylum seekers in recent years.[6]

Canada: Emergency Housing Support

In Canada, the federal government provides some emergency support through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). If you claim asylum at the border or at an inland office, you may be eligible for temporary housing assistance. However, this support varies by province.[7]

Provincial resettlement services play a large role. For example, Ontario and Quebec have specific programmes for asylum seekers who need emergency shelter. Many cities also have community organisations that provide beds, food, and clothing. The Canadian Red Cross and local immigrant-serving agencies are good first contacts if you need help finding a place to stay.

Specialist refugee houses also give transitional housing to refugee claimants, for example Romero House, FCJ Refugee Centre and Matthew House in Toronto.

Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 25(1)

Emergency Housing Options: UK vs US vs Canada

Emergency Reception in EU Member States

In the EU, Article 17 of the Reception Conditions Directive (2013/33/EU) requires member states to give asylum applicants material reception conditions, including housing, from the moment they apply. Each country runs its own system:

• Germany — initial reception centres (Erstaufnahmeeinrichtungen), then shared accommodation (Gemeinschaftsunterkünfte) run by the federal states.
• France — CADA (Centre d'accueil pour demandeurs d'asile) and HUDA (emergency accommodation for asylum seekers), with places allocated by OFII.
• Netherlands — accommodation through the COA (Centraal Orgaan opvang Asielzoekers).
• Italy — emergency reception centres (CAS) and the SAI network (formerly SIPROIMI/SPRAR), managed through the local prefecture.
• Spain — CETI centres in Ceuta and Melilla, and a national reception system run with NGOs such as CEAR.
• Sweden — accommodation provided by the Migration Agency (Migrationsverket).
• Greece — Reception and Identification Centres (RIC); the ESTIA apartment scheme closed at the end of 2022.
• Ireland — accommodation through the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS), the system often called Direct Provision.

Note: the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum applies from 12 June 2026. It replaces the 2013 Asylum Procedures Directive with the Asylum Procedures Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 and recasts the Reception Conditions Directive as Directive (EU) 2024/1346. The core rules described here carry over, but check the new article numbers before citing them.

How to Apply Fast If You Are Homeless Now

If you are on the street right now and need shelter tonight, here is what to do. Speed is important. Do not wait until morning. In the UK, call Migrant Help at 0808 8010 503 immediately. Tell them you are an asylum seeker and you are street-homeless. They have a duty to refer you to the Home Office for Section 98 accommodation. If you cannot reach Migrant Help, go to your nearest local authority housing office and explain your situation.

In the US, call 211. This is a free helpline that connects you to local social services, including shelters. You can also contact your nearest Catholic Charities office or call a local legal aid organisation for shelter referrals. If you are near the southern border, ask immigration officers about respite centre locations.

In Canada, call 211 or contact your nearest immigrant-serving agency. If you are in a large city like Toronto, Montreal, or Vancouver, there are specific shelters for newcomers and asylum seekers. Additionally, walk-in clinics and community centres can often point you to emergency beds.

Why You Must Avoid Sleeping Rough

Research shows that asylum seekers who experience homelessness are significantly more likely to develop depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. These conditions make it harder to attend appointments, remember details for your interview, and engage with your legal team. Therefore, securing stable housing is not just about comfort. It is directly connected to the success of your asylum claim.[8]

If your mental health has suffered because of homelessness, you should tell your lawyer. A medical report documenting your condition may help explain any gaps or inconsistencies in your evidence. For more on how expert witnesses can support asylum claims, see our directory.

What If You Are Refused Emergency Housing

Sometimes asylum seekers are refused emergency accommodation. This can happen for several reasons. The Home Office may decide that you are not destitute. Or there may be a dispute about your identity or your asylum claim status. If you are refused, you have rights.[9]

UK: Your Rights After Refusal

In the UK, you can challenge a refusal of asylum support. You can appeal to the Asylum Support Tribunal. This is a free process and you do not need a lawyer, although legal help is recommended. The tribunal can overturn the Home Office decision and order them to provide accommodation. Furthermore, charities such as Refugee Council and Asylum Support Appeals Project (ASAP) offer free legal advice on support refusals.

US and Canada: Alternative Support

In the US, there is no formal government appeal process for shelter refusal because there is no federal housing entitlement for asylum seekers. However, you can contact other NGOs for help. Try a different shelter, reach out to a church, or contact a pro bono immigration lawyer. In Canada, you can appeal decisions about social assistance through provincial mechanisms. Legal aid clinics in most provinces can help you with this process.

If all government and NGO options fail, there are still community resources. Food banks, day centres, and faith-based groups often provide meals and daytime shelter even when overnight beds are full. Staying connected to these networks is important while you wait for a longer-term solution. For more about your rights in the asylum process, explore our detailed guides.

How Housing Stability Helps Your Asylum Case

Having a stable address is important for your asylum case. In the UK, the Home Office sends important letters to your accommodation address. If you miss a letter because you have no address, you could miss a deadline or an interview. This can lead to your claim being refused. Similarly, in the US, immigration courts send hearing notices by post. Missing a hearing because you did not receive the notice can result in an in absentia removal order.[10]

Stable housing also means you can meet regularly with your lawyer. You can prepare your case properly, gather documents, and attend medical appointments. It gives you the mental space to focus on your claim. Consequently, accessing emergency housing is not just about survival. It is a practical step that protects your legal rights and improves your chances of getting protection. For more practical advice on navigating the asylum system, visit our human rights resource page.

Conclusion

Emergency housing for asylum seekers is available in the UK, the US, and Canada. The systems differ, but in every country there are people and organisations ready to help. In the UK, call Migrant Help. In the US, call 211 or a local NGO. In Canada, contact IRCC or dial 211. Do not sleep on the street if you can avoid it. Homelessness damages your health, your well-being, and your asylum case. Act quickly, ask for help, and keep your documents safe. Stable housing is the foundation for building a successful asylum claim.

Housing support keeps a claimant stable while the case proceeds, but the claim itself still needs evidence of risk on return; our expert witness finder matches cases with country specialists.