A report to be presented to Derry City and Strabane District Council this afternoon is recommending Syrian refugees arriving in city be housed in private rented accommodation.
The refugees are to be housed via the Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme “Where Will the Refugees be Housed?”
On arrival, they are to be provided with “welcome packs” consisting of household items, new toys, footballs, school uniform shop vouchers, oil/electric vouchers and Syrian food.
A Housing Sub Group of the Civic Action for Refugee group has been established; however specific identification of appropriate housing and allocation of housing is being managed centrally by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE).
However. given the lack of social housing, the private rented accommodation is to be used to accommodate the arriving refugees.
Bryson International is to engage with local community and voluntary agencies to aid the resettlement of refugees in the North West specifically.
Refugees admitted under the scheme are granted five years’ Humanitarian Protection with full access to employment and public funds and rights to family reunion comparable to refugees.
There is a caveat that an adult member of each family has to commit to learning English before benefits are allocated.
These courses will be provided by Department of Education and Learning and will be free of charge.
A General Health and Wellbeing Sub Group of the Civic Action for Refugee group has also been established.
It has been informed that schools will be recommended to the refugee families in the areas of where they are housed.
GPs will also be allocated on the basis of where the families are housed.
Derry City and Strabane District Council will facilitate the collection of specific welcome packs for the families to be provided with on their arrival.
The British Home Office will provide funding for the first year of the refugees stay.
Funding for future years is still being negotiated.
Details of the scheme are to be presented to members of the Governance and Strategic Planning Committee of Derry City and Strabane District Council this afternoon.
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It is anticipated the first refugees will arrive in the city at the end of next month.
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