More than 300 asylum seekers are currently being housed in hotels across Northern Ireland, official statistics reveal.
Government policy states that they should only stay in such accommodation for a maximum of six weeks, however figures have shown stays are often considerably longer.
For instance, as of May 2023, the average length of stay was 201 days, however some have reported being in hotels for more than a year.
This has raised serious concerns from human rights groups about the impact on both individuals and families.
While the number of asylum seekers being housed in hotels here has fallen — in December 2022 some 1,094 individuals were in hotels — new figures put the tally at 327 as of September 30.
The figures were released by the Executive Office after an Assembly question from TUV MLA Timothy Hast
The Home Office has responsibility for asylum seekers.
Private firm the Mears Group has been contracted to source accommodation for asylum seekers in the UK. In 2019, the firm signed a £113m contract with the Home Office to do this, running until August 2029.
Latest figures show 2,632 individuals in Northern Ireland were in receipt of asylum support, as of September, down from 3,220 at the same period last year and 1,710 in September 2022.
In August, businesses were attacked and cars set on fire in parts of the city following an anti-immigration protest. Several people were also violently assaulted.
The Assembly was recalled to discuss the serious disorder and several people were charged over it.
Participation and the Practice of Rights (PPR), a human rights organisation, has worked with asylum seekers.
“PPR has worked with many families seeking safety from war, famine and persecution who have been placed in hotels across the north for extended periods,” a spokesperson said.
“Families have regularly monitored and provided evidence about the challenges of living in overcrowded conditions, without spaces for children to play or learn, poor dietary provision and failure to assess the basic access needs of disabled people.
“Mears PLC, which procures this housing on behalf of the UK Home Office reported profits of £46.9m last year.
“The difficulties families face are compounded by the failures of devolved bodies to make adequate offers of social care, educational support and access to specialist health services.”
Patrick Corrigan from Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland branch, said: “Hotels should only ever be used as a short-term emergency measure for the provision of accommodation for people seeking asylum.
“Cramped living conditions, an institutionalised regime and lack of facilities to prepare food are unacceptable for anyone, but are especially harsh for families, and particularly for such long periods of time.
“Being stuck in a hotel, where one is isolated from the local community and normal life, can really hinder people’s ability to restart their lives. For those who have suffered torture or other trauma, it can severely compromise their rehabilitation.
“The root cause of this problem is an inhumane and increasingly punitive immigration and asylum system.
“Failed asylum policies from the previous government have caused huge delays in the processing of claims, and as a result, too many people seeking a place of safety have been left in limbo, living in woefully inadequate accommodation.”
In a statement, Mears said: “The Home Office is using hotels across the UK as contingency accommodation for asylum seekers due to the numbers requiring accommodation and a shortage of suitable, available housing.
“Mears has been working to procure additional accommodation as quickly as possible in Northern Ireland. This year we have closed 12 of the hotels and we aim to end their usage in 2025.”