
Providing a home in Torbay for an Afghan refugee family has unlocked government funds to help house local families in need.
Torbay councillors have responded to social media criticism over plans to buy four new homes in the bay to help families facing homelessness.
The government insists that one of the four homes – on new developments around the bay – must be offered to an Afghan family under a scheme which supports people who helped British forces during the war in Afghanistan. Their work with British forces now means their lives are at risk in their home country.
The council has been criticised for not allocating all four of the homes to local families in light of figures which show a ‘notable increase’ in the number of people homeless in the bay, with 1,400 households being assessed in 2024/25.
More than 160 are currently in temporary accommodation, with demand increasing and places in short supply.
However, Cllr Adam Billings (Con, Churston with Galmpton) told a meeting of the cabinet: “There may be local families who wonder why the fourth house cannot be provided for them, but if it was not for that house (for an Afghan family) being provided in that way, we would not be getting the funds for the other three.
“This was a package deal provided by the government. The important thing is that this is providing homes for four families, and three of them are local families.”
And council leader David Thomas (Con, Preston) said it was a great deal. “It’s almost a case of buy one, get three free!” he said.
Cllr Mike Fox (Lib Dem, Barton with Watcombe) added: “I don’t think we need to apologise for helping Afghan people who helped our soldiers during the war.” And Cllr Swithin Long (Lib Dem, Barton with Watcombe) added: “This is supporting people who supported our troops and put their lives on the line.”
Cllr Alan Tyerman (Con, Churston with Galmpton) said the council had applied for funds to buy 12 properties, but had only been allocated funds for four.
He said the council was likely to bid again in the next round of funding, at which time the Afghan Resettlement Programme may have been wound down.
Cllr Long said buying the four homes was welcome but was not even a drop in the ocean in meeting the bay’s needs. Cllr Thomas said it was a step in the right direction and would be ‘life-changing’ for the three local families who were housed.