TENS of thousands of asylum-seekers could be at risk of homelessness as the government fails to clear the system backlog by the end of 2023, the British Red Cross has warned.

The charity said its services have seen the number of people they support who have been granted refugee status but who have become destitute more than double since early summer.

It criticised changes it said the government has made to the time people are given to move out of asylum accommodation once they are given refugee status — the 28-day so-called “move-on” period.