Hundreds of asylum seekers could apply for Essex council homes if their application to stay in the UK is successful, it was warned today.
Southend social services chiefs fear a "potential major problem" in the town if asylum seekers ask the council to provide them with council houses in the future.
Only three asylum families are housed by the council at the moment, but more than 480 people have been placed in Southend hotels and guest houses.
Southend has its own spiralling homelessness problems with 457 homeless families presenting themselves to the council during 2000/2001, an increase of 21 per cent on the previous year's figure of 377.
John Nawrockyi, the council's director of social care, said: "While asylum seekers may be eligible for housing benefit there is a potential for additional cost to fall on the council."
Published Tuesday, March 12, 2002
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