A new report by researchers at Heriot-Watt University has found that Black people in England are over three times more likely than white British people to experience homelessness.
Homelessness and Black and Minoritised Ethnic Communities in the UK: A Statistical Report on the State of the Nation also 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.
Key findings:
- Black and minoritised ethnic communities experience disproportionate levels of homelessness in the UK.
- 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 disproportionate risks of experiencing homelessness for Black and Mixed ethnicity people in particular are substantially heightened in London.
- The greater risk of homelessness faced by Black and minoritised ethnic communities can’t be fully explained by economic, social, or other factors. Irrespective of employment patterns, poverty levels, housing tenure and local housing market conditions, Black and Mixed ethnicity households still have a higher likelihood of experiencing homelessness.
The report uses 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 research was carried out by Glen Bramley, Suzanne Fitzpatrick, Jill McIntyre, and Sarah Johnsen at Heriot-Watt University, in partnership with Race on the Agenda. It was funded by Oak Foundation as part of a three-year programme to give a full statistical picture of homelessness among people from Black and minority ethnic communities.
Professor Glen Bramley at Heriot-Watt University said: “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. 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.”
Ethnicity and immigrationPolitics and social attitudes
