Guidelines for Referrals

We only accept referrals from ARC in Blackburn and DARE in Darwen.
Please scroll down for their contact details and to se our referral guidelines.
If you do not have a local connection to Blackburn with Darwen we will not be able to house you.  You may be able to find support from a project more local to you.
​We are not able to accept self-referrals.  We are not able to accept referrals for non asylum-seekers or refugees.  We are unable to accept referrals for families.  
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Kairos Housing aims to provide short term accommodation for adult (i.e. over 18 years) asylum seekers who are destitute or refugees who have critical housing needs. Applicants must have a local connection to Blackburn with Darwen - our provision is limited and over subscribed.  We cannot accept referrals from out of area.  Accommodation is provided in shared flats. We do not provide legal advice.

A key aim of Kairos Housing is to provide a period of stability to enable those, whose asylum applications have been refused, to concentrate on gathering further evidence to enable them to submit a fresh asylum claim. We are not able to accept referrals from asylum seekers not actively pursuing their asylum claim, or who referrers believe to have little or no hope of success.  We offer this accommodation to individuals with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) free of charge.

We have a limited amount of accommodation available to refugees who have critical housing needs, typically in the move on period immediately after receiving refugee status.  Refugee tenants of Kairos Housing pay rent and a contribution towards utility costs.  We offer this accommodation on a short-term basis of up to six months while applicants make long term accommodation plans, in a range of one or two bed (shared), single sex, furnished flats.  

Referral Criteria

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Is the applicant destitute? That is, do they have no recourse to public or other funds?  If no, do they have a critical short-term housing need that cannot be met via Home Office or other social housing providers?

If yes to either of the above, then to the best of your knowledge:

• Are they currently experiencing severe mental ill-health?
• Do they have a recent history of deliberate self-harm, or attempted suicide?
• Do they have a history of challenging, aggressive, or inappropriate behaviour?
• Do they have drug or alcohol dependence?
• Do they have a criminal record?

If yes to any of these, then please detail them on the application form.  

Please be aware that places are not allocated on a ‘first come first served’ basis, nor simply on whether the person appears to meet the referral criteria or whether they appear to have the greatest need. Compatibility with current guests is also a major criterion and Kairos Housing always has the right to refuse a potential referral. No choice of accommodation is available. ‘Vacancies’ are likely to be rare and those referred will be asked to accept the first room offered.

Emergency Referrals

It always takes a few days for us to gather adequate background details on the person referred.  We are unable therefore to consider emergency referrals.

Trial Periods and Reviews

We offer accommodation for an initial period of 4 weeks after which a review meeting will be held between the guest and a staff member. This may be extended to 3, 6 or a maximum of 12 months depending on a number of factors.  Further regular reviews will be held.  We house individuals with NRPF for up to 12 months and individuals with refugee status for up to 6 months.

Terminating Placements

The project is not able to offer permanent accommodation to guests. Kairos Housing have the right to terminate a placement at any time, although we would give as much notice as possible.  Guests who gain the right or ability to support themselves will be given notice to leave. 

Registered Charity No: 1198820

Kairos Housing is a member of NACCOM.
Kairos Housing is grateful for funding from:

​The Gay and Keith Talbot Trust