Homelessness Among Ethnic Minorities Soars Under Conservative Government

Homelessness among ethnic minorities has reached the highest level in more than a decade and has rocketed since the Conservatives came to power in 2010. A new analysis of official statistics shows 5,030 black and minority ethnic (BAME) households were categorised as homeless between July and September 2016 - up from 3,310 during the same period in 2010. It means the number of BAME households being accepted as homeless has risen four times faster than among other groups. Between the summer of 2010 and the summer of 2016 homelessness among BAME households increased by 52 per cent, compared with 13 per among people classed as "White British". Read more on the Independent website.

Homelessness 'Rising Twice As Fast Among Ethnic Minorities'

A sharp rise in homelessness since David Cameron came to power has been driven by even steeper increases in people from ethnic minorities with nowhere to live.  Official data shows that the number of those people classified as “black and minority ethnic” accepted as homeless by councils has risen by 63 per cent since 2010 – around twice as high as the 33 per cent increase across all ethnic groups. In total 19,260 people from ethnic minorities were declared homeless by local authorities in 2015 – up from 11,790 in 2010. Read more on the Independent website.

Housing Association Downgraded Over Funding

A Nottingham-based housing association has today had its governance and viability ratings downgraded by the English social housing regulator over its funding arrangements. Tuntum Housing Association, one of England’s largest black and minority ethnic social landlords, had its governance rating downgraded from a G2 to a G3 today – meaning it no longer complies with the Homes and Communities Agency’s standards. Its viability rating was dropped one notch to V2, meaning it still complies but needs to improve. The 1,300-home had been placed on the regulators’ ‘watch list’ of organisations at risk of a downgrade since June. Read more on Inside Housing.

Human Cost of Welfare Cuts

The first detailed study into how benefits changes are hitting Manchester has revealed the ‘human cost’ of swingeing welfare cuts.  New research warns of overcrowding, new social ghettos, soaring levels of debt and mental illness – with minorities bearing the brunt.  The analysis finds minority groups – including the disabled, women and certain ethnic groups – are being hit disproportionately hard by the policies. Around two thirds of the 575 households affected by the benefits cap are ethnic minorities. It warns the cap will force people into cramped, overcrowded conditions. Read more on the Manchester Evening News website.

Choice Based Lettings A 'Cause Of Ethnic Segregation'

Choice based lettings has become a major cause of ethnic segregation in England, despite being set up to encourage mixed communities. Heralded as a solution to tensions in the 1990s, the system aimed to create ethnically and socio-economically mixed neighbourhoods in Bradford, Oldham and Burnley. But a study led by the Centre for Housing Research at the University St Andrews found that choice based lettings have effectively segregated communities. The findings suggest that a lack of real choice has forced ethnic minorities to move to deprived neighbourhoods and frequently to neighbourhoods with high concentrations of other ethnic minorities. Read more on Inside Housing.

Benefit Cut Will Aid Minorities

The head of Britain’s equalities watchdog has suggested housing benefit cuts could help black and ethnic minority families. Trevor Phillips, chief executive of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, has argued that the government’s drive to cut the housing benefit bill would benefit minority families in work. He said: ‘The policy may benefit working minority families if it drives down rents overall, since those minority families are far more likely to be in rented accommodation’. Tim Nichols, press and parliamentary officer for the Child Poverty Action Group, queried Mr Phillips’ stance: ‘We know that the housing benefit cuts will disproportionately hit ethnic minority groups… Whether it will decrease rents is extremely speculative. We know the barriers that face people getting into the housing market for the first time are putting strong upward pressure on rents in London in particular.’ Read more on Inside Housing.