Britain's racist housing system must change
Research reveals discrimination places Black people and other minority ethnic groups at greater risk of homelessness
BLACK people are more likely to suffer homelessness than their White British peers, claims a recent report; yet another indictment of the UK's shamefully racist undertone.
The report, by researchers at Heriot-Watt University (HWU), found that Black people are three and a half times as likely to experience statutory homelessness.
This is a legal classification that means their local council has a duty to provide some form of assistance, whether that is signposting people to further support services, or providing temporary accommodation.
What's more, the report finds that among those Black people with experience of homelessness, 32% reported discrimination from a social or a private landlord.
England is the worst for it, apparently, with the country found to have the highest levels of homelessness risks experienced by people from Black and minoritised ethnic backgrounds.
“This report reveals the shocking extent of disparities in homelessness risks experienced between some minoritised ethnic communities and White people living in the UK today,” said HWU's professor Glen Bramley.
“What is particularly distressing is the apparent link between homelessness and race discrimination. This needs further investigation, and we are committed to this ongoing work to better inform priorities, tools and levers for intervention.”
The title is quite a mouthful – Homelessness and Black and Minoritised Ethnic Communities in the UK: A Statistical Report on the State of the Nation – but the report sheds light on a critical issue festering within the UK's already woeful state of housing provision.
Indeed, one of the worst illustrations recently is the shocking case of Awaab Ishak, the child who died as a result of exposure to mould in his parents' housing association flat.
The boy's mother and father felt little doubt that racism was part of the package in a culture of indifference responsible for their social landlord's repeated failure to resolve the problem, to a tragic outcome. Sadly, it is coming to light just how much of a problem mould – and landlord indifference – is across the sector.
Back to the report, and its findings present a case that experiences of discrimination, harassment or abuse on the grounds of race or ethnicity – whether in housing or in other aspects of life – “appears to be associated” with “elevated risks” of homelessness.
“This report makes for extremely difficult reading, but sadly its findings aren’t surprising,” said Dr Halima Begum, chief executive of the Runnymede Trust.
“What this research makes clear is that the heightened risk of homelessness faced by certain ethnic minority communities cannot be fully explained just in socio-economic or demographic terms alone, but are in fact down to a person’s race and ethnicity when those other factors remain a constant across all those experiencing homelessness.
“As with homelessness, racism is structural and is woven into the processes and practices of systems and institutions which should act as the safety net preventing people from becoming homeless to begin with, and then supporting them to escape the cycle of exclusion once they become homeless. The safety nets are not working for minority groups.”
Ali Ahmed, from Race on the Agenda (ROTA), described the report's findings as “harrowing” but “sadly not unexpected” and said it fuels the need for urgent policy changes.
“[W]e are seeing the impact of these findings every day as Black and minoritised ethnic communities remain over-represented in the most deprived neighbourhoods and households nationally,” he added.
“The findings of this report are important and timely, adding essential statistical evidence of discrimination and underpinning ROTA’s continued call for urgent policy change from central and devolved governments.”
The report is the first in a three-year programme to build knowledge and capacity to tackle the issues raised. It aims to support a “fundamental step change” in the UK's body of evidence on homelessness amongst people from Black and minoritised ethnic communities – so that something can be done about it.
The research was carried out with input from race and equalities organisations, national housing and homelessness charities, and poverty experts. Data was sourced from the UK Data Service, Government Statistical services, and the Office for National Statistics.
Number crunching, maybe, but it tells a sorry tale of discrimination and its harmful impacts. The real question is, will policymakers listen – and will they work with communities and civil society to foster real change? All the evidence bases in the world change nothing, without a willingness to take heed and make a difference.
Certainly, this report should “shame us as a country”, as the chief executive of homelessness charity, Crisis, points out.
“Every day we see in our services that black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities are experiencing higher rates of homelessness, but this research puts beyond doubt the reality and scale of the problem,” Matt Downie added.
“It is horrifying that people are being exposed to harassment and abuse in the pursuit of trying to find somewhere safe and secure to live. The homelessness sector, national and local government, and wider society must acknowledge and root out these injustices and advocate for long term systemic solutions if we’re to ultimately end homelessness for good.”
Polly Neate, chief executive of fellow homelessness charity, Shelter said racial inequality and discrimination are “hard-wired” into the housing system.
“This report shows, once again, that the housing emergency disproportionately impacts Black and minoritised ethnic communities,” she added. “The direct link between homelessness and racial discrimination cannot be ignored and more has to be done.
“Heriot-Watt's work is helping to lead the way. Homelessness is a structural problem that needs major structural solutions. Any commitment to ending homelessness and creating a fair and secure housing system, must take into account the clear role that the legacy of racial discrimination has played and how it continues to plague society.”
Responding to the report, the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), said that a commitment to equality and diversity is a “fundamental part” of being a housing professional; something it says is reflected in its codes of ethics, conduct, and standards.
The organisation said: “It’s important that everyone across the sector works together to create a fair and inclusive environment where every individual feels confident that they will be free from discrimination, criticism, harassment, or any other emotional harm, and that their life experiences will be valued.”
Chief executive, Gavin Smart added: “The figures highlighted in this report are disappointing and once again, highlight how much more work we, across the housing sector must do to tackle systemic racial inequality and discrimination.
“At CIH, we are fully committed to improving equality, diversity and inclusion in our organisation, throughout our membership and across the housing sector, and we know we must do more. There can be no room for complacency. It is vital that as a sector we step up and take action to tackle and end racial oppression in all its forms.”
MC