A new ‘explainer’ from Understanding Society looks at how researchers at Heriot-Watt University have used our data to write a report about disproportionate levels of homelessness among ethnic minorities in the UK.
Homelessness and Black and Minoritised Ethnic Communities in the UK: A Statistical Report on the State of the Nation found that a history of discrimination is associated with elevated risks of homelessness. About a third of Black people who had experienced homelessness reported previous discrimination from a social or private landlord.
It also found that:
- In England the highest risk of homelessness is experienced by people from Black and Mixed ethnic groups.
- Asian people in England are more likely to experience ‘hidden homelessness’, such as living in over-crowded housing or ‘doubling up’ with other households.
- The greater risk of homelessness faced by Black and minoritised ethnic communities can’t be fully explained by economic, social, or other factors.
The report, produced in partnership with Race on the Agenda, was part of a three-year programme to give a full statistical picture of homelessness among people from Black and minority ethnic communities. It used data from Understanding Society and other sources such as the English Housing Survey, the Scottish Household Survey, the Labour Force Survey, and the 1970 British Cohort Study – as well as official statistics on homelessness.
The new ‘explainer’ is an example of how Understanding Society’s data can have real impact on policy and practice.
Read Do Black and minority ethnic communities experience more homelessness?
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