A humanitarian crisis is unfolding on the streets of the United Kingdom, as a new report reveals the number of homeless refugees has more than doubled in the past two years. A network of over 100 frontline charities has declared a "refugee homelessness emergency," sounding the alarm on what it calls a failing system.

This isn't just a foreign headline; it's a cautionary tale about the human cost of abrupt policy shifts. For Kenya, which hosts over 850,000 refugees and asylum seekers, the situation in the UK underscores the immense challenges of providing sustainable support for the world's most vulnerable, even in wealthy nations.

A System in Chaos

The report, released by Naccom, a national charity network, paints a grim picture. Its members accommodated a record 4,434 homeless refugees and migrants in the last year but were forced to turn away at least 3,450 more due to a lack of capacity. The number of people sleeping rough upon seeking help has skyrocketed.

Naccom directly attributes the crisis to "near-constant government policy changes" and systemic failures. Among the key issues cited are:

• Digital Hurdles: The transition from physical Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) to a digital-only eVisa system has been plagued with glitches. Many newly recognised refugees, who have just 28 days to leave government housing, cannot access their eVisa to prove their right to rent or work, pushing them into destitution.
• Policy Whiplash: The UK government has proposed sweeping changes to its asylum system, including reducing the length of refugee status from five years to 30 months and revoking the automatic duty to provide support.
• Lack of Housing: Charities note there is simply not enough affordable housing available for refugees to move into, a problem compounded by the accelerated processing of asylum claims.

"Our survey findings paint a bleak picture of a continuing crisis with no end in sight," warned Bridget Young, the director of Naccom. "Successive governments have expanded the hostile environment through constant, reactive policy changes that make it easier for people to fall into destitution."

The Kenyan Perspective

While the UK grapples with housing a few thousand newly recognised refugees, Kenya continues to manage one of the most protracted refugee situations globally. The majority of refugees in camps like Dadaab and Kakuma have been displaced for decades. The Kenyan government, with partners like the UNHCR, is working on the 'Shirika Plan' to shift from a camp-based model to one focused on socio-economic inclusion for both refugees and host communities.

The struggles in the UK highlight that financial resources alone do not solve integration challenges. Clear, stable, and humane policies are critical. The chaos caused by the UK's eVisa rollout serves as a crucial lesson in the importance of implementation when dealing with vulnerable populations who may face language and technology barriers.

In Oxfordshire, one charity, Asylum Welcome, reported being asked to support 48 newly recognised refugees evicted from asylum accommodation in a single month, with many ending up on the streets. It is this human-level impact that resonates globally, from the streets of London to the camps in Turkana County.

As nations worldwide, including Kenya, navigate the complexities of migration, the unfolding crisis in the UK is a stark reminder that a grant of asylum must be the beginning of a path to stability, not a doorway to the streets.