Over the past decade, the scale of homelessness and housing difficulties among EEA citizens across the UK has become a growing concern. Charities and frontline organisations have highlighted large numbers of destitute EEA citizens using their services, in many cases because they are unable to access government support due to rules governing benefit entitlements. Evidence from official sources now suggest that significant shares of people experiencing homelessness originate from countries within the EEA, particularly in London.

These concerns have been exacerbated by the twin challenges of Covid-19 and the end of EU free movement rules. The introduction of the new points-based immigration system represents a major shake-up of the rights and entitlements of EEA citizens. While those living in the UK before the end of the Brexit transition period are in principle protected from the new changes if they have secured status under the EU Settlement Scheme, there is a high risk that those who have not yet applied (and who have no other form of leave to remain) now face barriers to accessing work, housing, and welfare.