Two bridge hotels opened in West Berkshire DC this weekend to accommodate Afghan refugees before being offered permanent shelter, as part of a concerted nationwide effort to house refugees from Afghanistan.

At a webinar for local executives on Friday, the Department of Housing, Municipalities and Local Government and the Department of the Interior encouraged city councils to work together on their offerings and not consider any housing or support offer too small.

The leaders were also told that the Department of Defense was keen to work with councils to facilitate access to their accommodations.

In West Berkshire, the council was contacted by the Home Office on September 2, stating that as of September 3, two local hotels will be used to accommodate evacuees who have completed the quarantine. Evacuees arrived at the hotels that weekend.

West Berkshire has already committed to providing permanent housing to three families in the district.

The refugees will live in the hotels during the triage until they are offered permanent accommodation in locations across the country.

The council is working closely with other authorities in the district to ensure that evacuees transferred to the bridging hotels can safely arrive and stay in the district.

the Home office said last week that it is working with 100 councils to find accommodation for evacuees from Afghanistan and has so far guaranteed permanent accommodation for 2,000 refugees.

West Berkshire leader Lynne Doherty (Con) said, “I’m sure we are all affected by the dire situation in Afghanistan and we want to help those who are now forced to flee their country.”

“At the Council in July, members unanimously supported my call to offer resettlement to Afghan families and this further step will mean even more support for those who have worked with the British armed forces and are now at risk after we leave the country,” said Cllr Doherty.

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